40 years is a long stint. I take my hat off to you for managing to stop, you've done your bank balance and health the world of good. The general view out there appears to be that from an addiction standpoint, if you can give you smoking you can give up just about anything.

I've always found it fascinating how some end up having an 'enough is enough' moment and against all the odds manage to quit there and then.

Edited by dollardays (27 Feb 2019 1.11pm)

I try not to be around smokers because of inhaling the smoke and the smell. Also difficult is those smokers standing in pub / shop doorways that I want to enter. It also looks untidy/ messy? Wish there were other places they could go for their habit. Of course I’m a non smoker and love the fact I can be in places without those around me smoking. Outside concerts are also a pain when around smokers as it means I have to move. I do realise though that people enjoy smoking / it’s a habit so it’s not easy for them when out and about. I suppose in this day and age smoking should be banned anywhere as it’s so dangerous for your health and perhaps one day it will? I’m just rambling and not having a go at smokers.

It has always amused me that some of the worst for berating us smokers are mothers of small children. They also get very upset when you point out to them that pushing their sprog around in a buggy every day, with the little darling's head at exhaust pipe height is almost certainly considerably worse for junior than one's passing cigarette smoke.

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers

So you're Fag Ash Lil are you

It's a funny thing because I as good as grew up in some of these smoke filled pubs but at the time I didn't even think twice about it. I'm glad the law changes though. We're hardly a very health focused country with our diets nowadays, and so anything thats good for health is good for society.

I'm sure you could in the right set of circumstances but for some the trade off isn't worth it. The best path is of course not to start in the first place but then after the fact that advice becomes useless.

On the subject of drinking and smoking, 'social smokers' are an interesting bunch, because as you say smoking is very addictive. I used to think the whole idea of 'social smoking' was some kind of myth but it turns out there really are those who only smoke when they're out for a few drinks.