Posted on 06/02/2012 10:41:50 AM PDT by Olog-hai
It killed 695,000 people in the EU last year. But despite restaurant bans and gruesome health labels, the number of smokers is hardly going down.
A European Commission survey published for the UN's international anti-smoking day on Thursday (31 May) shows that 28 percent of the EU population smokes today compared to 29 percent in 2009.
The number is still going up in the Czech Republic, Finland and Slovenia.
Another 21 percent used to smoke but say they have given up.
The typical smoker's profile is unflattering: it is the most prevalent among young men aged 15 to 54 who left school early and who are unemployed and broke. …
Health commissioner John Dalli, from Malta (a heavy consumer), said on Wednesday he will in autumn toughen up the EU's 11-year-old Tobacco Products Directive, which governs nicotine levels and health warnings on packets.
He added that he is "deeply concerned" about cigarettes' appeal to young people.
The numbers come despite anti-smoking measures at national level and public support for tobacco austerity. …
(Excerpt) Read more at euobserver.com ...
Cigarette smoking (like everythign else) is NOT harmful in moderation.
I have never smoked, never even tried it—always found it gross. However, I heard a guy on some health talk radio show, a few years, back, make some really interesting arguments for the health benefits of moderate smoking. It was interesting. I had had some friends who were smokers and I noticed that they rarely got sick. Something to do with the smoking and it’s effects on your mucous membranes.
______________________________
Former smoker here:
Benefits of smoking:
Causes people to stop every couple of hours and deep breathe and relax
reduces anxiety
reduces appitite
reduces hypothyroidism
Personally I think that the increase in anxiety, depression and obesty is related to the reduction in smoking and alcohol use.
We never fix anything, we just make tradeoffs.
I rarely laugh out loud but that one elicited such a response.
Since I am not in the market for consensual, non-transactional sex with young American women, that is not an issue.
If I were in the market for consensual, non-transactional sex with young American women, they would likely make exceptions for my rather well developed talents and attributes.
Not saying it's right, I just don't think they had another iconic portrait of Johnson that DIDN'T have a cigarette.
Kinda like my dad. I was looking at some pics of him from when I was a kid and in every single one he's holding a smoke.
And he's still very much alive, thank you. (But he doesn't smoke anymore)
Nobody besides James Dean made smoking look so damn cool.
That's something new. Our hard working Congress at work.
There've been other similar cases not involving U.S. Stamps.
If you watch old movies, not necessarily even those with the poor cough, coughing (off screen) Humphrey Bogart, you’ll notice how much dramatical mileage is gained through lighting, puffing and putting out those poison sticks. Characters speak, scream and shout without saying a word. It’s all missing from the current movies, or is employed self-consciously, clumsily and over the top.
In a word - Yes.
I will now finish reading the thread, but it needed to be said- - again even if others have said it.
Some people are actually born with it although never show symptoms. Others contract it later in life for a variety of reasons.
i read that study too- i cannot remembwe where either (sorry folks)
It was something along the lines of “that which does not kill me, makes me stronger”
A little smoke (and it seems a little radiation) cause the body to react to strengthen your defenses
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