by Ethel Smith

Created on: April 18, 2008

Many years ago, in England for example, cigarette smoking was freely advertised in magazines, on television and even as sponsors of sporting events. This sponsorship must have been the most incongruous ever. Smokers at this time would also say that there were no health warnings on cigarette packs and no well publicised medical evidence against the effects of smoking on a person's health, which of course there are today. However even then smokers knew that smoking was not good for them. As a cigarette smoker in the 1960's, as a teenager,I knew that it was already generally known that cigarette smoking could damage your health. Passive smoking health issues were however not recognized at that time.

I have written this brief background to show that the only smokers who may have got hooked on the habit before research proved smoking's dangers would have to be at least in their seventies now. Still even they must still take responsibility for the risks to their health of cigarette smoking as they could have given up at any time. Not easy I know, speaking as a reformed smoker, but possible.

Governments I think will remain reluctant to ban smoking altogether partially due to the revenue they receive and the restriction of people's liberties. However the recent laws, which have restricted smoking in public places in England, have limited smoker's opportunities to have a puff. These days in England there are health warnings on packs of cigarettes, and there is an advertising ban, which must help prevent youngsters becoming brainwashed into being smokers. The prices are set at a high level also which means that smoking is not only socially unacceptable these days but also expensive.

Smokers take up the habit for all sorts of reasons, often whilst still at school due to peer pressure. However really there is no reason to start smoking in the first place. If you are already addicted there are many products such as Nicotine patches which can help you give up. No-one these days can refute the serious health risks caused by smoking. Yes cigarettes are available to buy but no-one is forcing anybody to buy them. That is an individual choice by the consumer who then is also making a health choice. Smokers, like most people, prefer to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the warnings. In doing so they must accept responsibility for the health risks of smoking.

Although the facts speak for themselves we must never forget that we are all only human and unfortunately we sometimes make bad choices. At times we eat junk, drink too much, do not exercise enough and more. Smoking is just one of those failings that some people have. However the consequences of this addiction can be wasting vast amounts of money and squandering one's health. Smoker's need to stop fooling themselves that it will not be them who become ill and accept the risks that they are taking, putting the blame squarely on their own shoulders. I think that they also need to accept the risks which they may be putting their loved ones through by passive smoking.

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