I used to smoke a lot of cigarettes when I was younger. I’m from the UK so it wasn’t hard to find them. The way it felt to light them and inhale that first drag was always amazing. They were really easy to come by and often quite affordable. It felt like a hip thing to do, and like everyone else in my circle at the time was also doing it.
But what I didn’t realize was that I was doing myself a great disservice. Smoking cigarettes had a massive effect on my health. I now have a much better understanding of how bad and damaging they are for me. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do, meaningful in the moment but stupid in retrospect.
Now, the UK has some of the harshest penalties for smoking cigarettes, especially in public places. Throughout the UK, smoking in a public place – whether it’s in a restaurant, a club, or a nightclub – is strictly prohibited and could land you a hefty fine. I think this is a great thing. Not only do these laws help protect non-smokers from exposure to cigarette smoke, it also discourages smoking by making it uncomfortable (not to mention illegal).
That’s not to say that it’s impossible to find cigarettes and smoke in the UK. You can still buy cigarettes in most shops and petrol stations. The prices are quite expensive due to taxes and regulations, but it’s still relatively easy to find what you’re looking for. The rising prices of cigarettes might be discouraging some people from smoking, but it’s hard to say for sure.
In the UK, the emphasis is now on trying to stop people from smoking cigarettes in the first place. There is an array of public health campaigns that are aimed at educating people about the risks of smoking, and helping them to find new ways of quitting. The government is also now running a number of stop smoking services, which provide free one-on-one advice and support for anyone looking to quit.
For some, quitting cigarettes can be a long and difficult road – but I believe it’s worth it. I think it’s important to be aware of the health risks associated with smoking and to take responsibility for our own health. Doing so can help improve our lives now and in the long run. Quitting cigarettes may feel like an impossible challenge, but the rewards are well worth it.