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Is smoking making a comeback in 2017?
Bry_Fitness70
Posts: 2,480 Member
As insane as this may sound, I’m fairly sure that smoking is making a comeback. Sadly, my evidence is people smoking at outside of restaurants and in playgrounds, amusement parks, water parks, and camp grounds I have been at throughout the summer (anecdote alert). Because who doesn’t love walking with their kids through a cloud of second hand smoke or watching them playing while trying to avoid the cigarette butts thrown everywhere? Good times…
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Replies
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I personally haven't seen it. I work in a school and back in the day, there would be a "hang out" where kids would smoke. I haven't seen anything in any of the middle schools where that's prevalent. Now high schools and colleges could be different. Also out in public, I don't see it that much and I'm out walking or biking sometime every day.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Seems pretty much the same as ever to me (down overall since some years ago, more visible in some ways since everyone forced it outside to specific areas). I see e-cigs more (which I find annoying because of the weird sweet cloud of smoke), but I assume that's people trying to quit, so good for them.1
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Smoking in public is one of the things that I hate most in the world. I find it just gross and disrespectful of your fellow human and just plain rude. I haven't noticed a particular uptick this year, though. Just the same trend of smokers who think that anything 'outside' is theirs to pollute, even if they are in the middle of a crowd. I find it super useful when parks and such have designated smoking areas, because then I can avoid those places. There are few things more annoying that accidentally walking into a cloud of second hand smoke.
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Yeah, the rate has to be much lower than decades ago, but still much higher than I would expect, given our understanding of the medical consequences and the high cost of smoking. Beyond the e-cigarette people, I seem to see a lot of people smoking in vehicles, too.
I grew up in a cloud of secondhand smoke (both parents smoked several packs a day), with no one associating this to my severe “allergies and asthma” as a kid (I actually received allergy shots for years). Once I was an adult and was able to reduce my exposure to second hand smoke, my “allergies and asthma” were miraculously cured.
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While the data is two years old (2015) sales are officially down, but I agree and have seen more smoking in the last few months. Then again I've been taking my kids to the nearby skate park where teens are smoking.1
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I don't feel that I am seeing more smokers. I do get a little bit annoyed at some of the e-cig users who seem to think it's ok to smoke those inside, or right in front of your face, where traditional cigarette users seem to be more respectful. I realize e-cigs are "more healthy", but if you think they are as healthy as non polluted air then you have your head up your you know what, IMO. My MIL is like that, she was astounded when we were told her she wasn't smoking that crap in our house.0
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Considering that - as of late 2016, early 2017 - cigarette sales were declining, I doubt it. Like others, I see more vaping/e-cigarettes, though.
eta: Additionally, the fact that smokers tend to congregate on the outside of buildings probably makes it seem like you're seeing more, as it's concentrated at entryways, so you're almost forced to see it, as opposed to having it going on, but it's just somewhere in the building - like a smoking section - where you might not see it.6 -
I once told an aspiring politician that cigarette odors were the smell of freedom. I didn't and don't and don't expect to start, but you should be free to even if my assertion from 2 decades ago is no longer valid.1
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I've seen more open vaping than I've seen smoking (vaping right before going in the gym even). At least that smells a bit better.
I'm one of those people who used to smoke (quit 30 years ago) who turned into an evangelistic anti-smoker. I loathe it.4 -
I haven't seen it, personally, but Seattle banned children a long time ago. And most of what I see people smoking in parks isn't tobacco.8
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NorthCascades wrote: »I haven't seen it, personally, but Seattle banned children a long time ago. And most of what I see people smoking in parks isn't tobacco.
Is that legal?
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Seems pretty much the same as ever to me (down overall since some years ago, more visible in some ways since everyone forced it outside to specific areas). I see e-cigs more (which I find annoying because of the weird sweet cloud of smoke), but I assume that's people trying to quit, so good for them.
Sadly, I'm not sure most of them are. E-cigs and vaping have become especially trendy. I'd guess that as many people starting a nicotine habit via e-cigs as are kicking one.
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Fewer smokers, but they're all more visible now, especially in the summer months, because fewer and fewer smoke indoors. Which is great, I think.3
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I don't know if it's become more common but I live in Northeast Georgia in a small town outside Atlanta and smoking is insanely common here. Much more so than other places I've lived. It's a pretty low income rural area and I think that's part of why it's so common. I would love to get out but we're tied here for the time being.2
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I was actually mentioning this to my husband the other day. I don't know if more people are taking up smoking or if the stigma attached to smoking is decreasing because of the increasing popularity of legalized marijuana and so they just don't hide it as much anymore.2
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TeacupsAndToning wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »I haven't seen it, personally, but Seattle banned children a long time ago. And most of what I see people smoking in parks isn't tobacco.
Is that legal?
Oh - great minds.
It's Seattle. Social justice > legality everytime. Only superseded by Portland.5 -
TeacupsAndToning wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »I haven't seen it, personally, but Seattle banned children a long time ago. And most of what I see people smoking in parks isn't tobacco.
Is that legal?
Oh - great minds.
It's Seattle. Social justice > legality everytime. Only superseded by Portland.
I spent a week in Seattle a few years ago for a work conference and I felt like the entire city was completely baked.1 -
It's probably because it's illegal to smoke in most places that you notice the smokers out more.3
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I hate it when I go hiking and someone is smoking on the trail.
Vaping has created a funny thing where I can be in early morning commuter traffic and someone near me rolls down a window and clouds of smoke/vapor billow out..... Looks like it came out of a 1990s rap video...3 -
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I live in Seattle. There are still children here.
*would totally move to non-children neighborhood* On that note, I find living in a small condo on a river to be just the thing to keep children away. No one wants junior to wander too close to a deep, un-fenced body of water. Excellent.
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I don't think so...I think it's actually just more noticeable because less people are smoking...so it's weird to see someone smoking a cigarette and catches your attention.4
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Good timing. We had this conversation the other day - apparently, my 17-year-old stepdaughter has "dabbled" in smoking lately. Some new menthol thing? I'm really upset, but also really, really surprised (and then sort of chided myself for being surprised, because almost NOTHING she does surprises me - I'm usually the chill adult in our family) but I honestly thought smoking was "out." I never see teenagers and kids smoking like they used to, but yes, apparently, it's coming back a little.
SHE actually thinks that the recent increase in anti-smoking ads are actually to blame for increased smoking in teens. Typical teenager argument, but she might actually be on to something.6 -
Not smoking, but I've noticed a ton of Vaping in our area. That's annoying because it smells and people are allowed to do anywhere.1
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JeepHair77 wrote: »Good timing. We had this conversation the other day - apparently, my 17-year-old stepdaughter has "dabbled" in smoking lately. Some new menthol thing? I'm really upset, but also really, really surprised (and then sort of chided myself for being surprised, because almost NOTHING she does surprises me - I'm usually the chill adult in our family) but I honestly thought smoking was "out." I never see teenagers and kids smoking like they used to, but yes, apparently, it's coming back a little.
SHE actually thinks that the recent increase in anti-smoking ads are actually to blame for increased smoking in teens. Typical teenager argument, but she might actually be on to something.
I completely agree with your daughter on this. Any publicity is good publicity.2 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I once told an aspiring politician that cigarette odors were the smell of freedom. I didn't and don't and don't expect to start, but you should be free to even if my assertion from 2 decades ago is no longer valid.
It isn’t freedom if your actions impair the health and/or comfort of others, it is selfishness.mrsnattybulking wrote: »It's probably because it's illegal to smoke in most places that you notice the smokers out more.
My state has been "smoke-free" since 2006, so people smoking outside more is nothing new.JeepHair77 wrote: »Good timing. We had this conversation the other day - apparently, my 17-year-old stepdaughter has "dabbled" in smoking lately. Some new menthol thing? I'm really upset, but also really, really surprised (and then sort of chided myself for being surprised, because almost NOTHING she does surprises me - I'm usually the chill adult in our family) but I honestly thought smoking was "out." I never see teenagers and kids smoking like they used to, but yes, apparently, it's coming back a little.
SHE actually thinks that the recent increase in anti-smoking ads are actually to blame for increased smoking in teens. Typical teenager argument, but she might actually be on to something.
I'm struggling with the messaging for my kids, who are much younger. I'm trying to discourage smoking without making it something cool and rebellious, which is a balancing act for sure.1 -
Vaping has grown quite a bit here. Tobacco I think is on a decline. Japan made selling nicotine pretty difficult but vaping store just upped their other prices and give it away. Gov can't make it illegal as still too many smokers and the politicians would get voted out.0
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JeepHair77 wrote: »Good timing. We had this conversation the other day - apparently, my 17-year-old stepdaughter has "dabbled" in smoking lately. Some new menthol thing? I'm really upset, but also really, really surprised (and then sort of chided myself for being surprised, because almost NOTHING she does surprises me - I'm usually the chill adult in our family) but I honestly thought smoking was "out." I never see teenagers and kids smoking like they used to, but yes, apparently, it's coming back a little.
SHE actually thinks that the recent increase in anti-smoking ads are actually to blame for increased smoking in teens. Typical teenager argument, but she might actually be on to something.
When I was a smoker, a non-smoking ad on TV would remind me to pop outside for a cigarette.4 -
Bry_Lander wrote: »JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I once told an aspiring politician that cigarette odors were the smell of freedom. I didn't and don't and don't expect to start, but you should be free to even if my assertion from 2 decades ago is no longer valid.
It isn’t freedom if your actions impair the health and/or comfort of others, it is selfishness.mrsnattybulking wrote: »It's probably because it's illegal to smoke in most places that you notice the smokers out more.
My state has been "smoke-free" since 2006, so people smoking outside more is nothing new.JeepHair77 wrote: »Good timing. We had this conversation the other day - apparently, my 17-year-old stepdaughter has "dabbled" in smoking lately. Some new menthol thing? I'm really upset, but also really, really surprised (and then sort of chided myself for being surprised, because almost NOTHING she does surprises me - I'm usually the chill adult in our family) but I honestly thought smoking was "out." I never see teenagers and kids smoking like they used to, but yes, apparently, it's coming back a little.
SHE actually thinks that the recent increase in anti-smoking ads are actually to blame for increased smoking in teens. Typical teenager argument, but she might actually be on to something.
I'm struggling with the messaging for my kids, who are much younger. I'm trying to discourage smoking without making it something cool and rebellious, which is a balancing act for sure.
I address everything from a risk/reward perspective - making it age appropriate, but not dumbing it down.
I struggle with this as well, but giving them all the information so they have the knowledge and confidence to make the decision for themselves when we're not around.2 -
TeacupsAndToning wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »I haven't seen it, personally, but Seattle banned children a long time ago. And most of what I see people smoking in parks isn't tobacco.
There are no children in Seattle?
They're a rare sight in most of the city. We're surrounded by water so there isn't much land, we're packed in, rents are expensive. It's mostly younger professionals who haven't started a family yet living in the city core, people who value night life, walkibility, proximity to tech jobs, etc. Families with children tend to live on the margins of the city, or in the suburbs, where housing is cheaper. I'm sure this happens in all cities but the booming economy here and the lack of space put it in overdrive.1
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