No Smoking Day (part 3)

By the 1950s, tobacco companies (and governments) knew that smoking was bad for people's health, but it wasn't until years later that they finally admitted it. For years they enlisted scientists and the media to smear those who warned the public about the dangers of smoking. Sadly, their lies worked, because it wasn't until 1982* that cigarette sales finally started to drop in the United States.

* Source: https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/2/87

Since the truth finally leaked out about smoking, thousands of people every year try to give up smoking, and in fact there's even a day especially for that purpose, creatively named ... No Smoking Day! This year No Smoking Day falls on 13th March, so to 'celebrate', this week's blog post features a no smoking theme.

1) The simplest way to give up is to follow the example of this statue, and just say no.

Just say no.

"No thanks, mate. They stunt your growth."

Credit: Reddit




2) What's another name for time off from work to have a smoke?

Taking a coughy break.




3) Here's a sign I spotted when I was on holiday in Thailand...

No smoking alcohol.

No smoking alcohol ... but presumably drinking alcohol is fine?




4) What did the disappointed smoker get for Christmas?

Clothes but no cigar.




5) According to politicians*, deaths caused by smoking are financially desirable...

Jim Hacker: "It says here, smoking related diseases cost the National Health Service £165 million a year."
Sir Humphrey Appleby: "Yes, but it has been shown that if those extra 100,000 people had lived to a ripe old age, it would have cost us even more in pensions and social security than it did in medical treatment. So financially speaking, it's unquestionably better that they continue to die at their present rate."

* The quotes are from the 80s TV show, Yes, Prime Minister. Of course in real life I'm sure that politicians and bureaucrats would never deliberately sacrifice lives to save money. **shifty eyes**




6) Here's a silly smoking themed example of deliberately contrived pareidolia...

Remember, be like the statue, not like the toilet.




7) I found this next quote on the internet posted by a parent quoting their seven year old daughter...

Coughing leads to coffin.

7 year old: "I don't know why I have a cough. I don't even smoke!"

Unlike most fake quotes by parents that you find on twitter, I can imagine a child actually saying this.




8) Finally, what's the biggest advantage of being a smoker?

Not having to set aside money for your old age.

You can find my previous No Smoking Day blog posts below:
No Smoking Day (part 1)
No Smoking Day (part 2)