seeing through the smoke - the truth about smoking
It all began with a lunch date with my good friend Helen, a close friend I met since university. As usual we began catching up on the gossip, before I asked her what she through about the smoking ban that was going to be voted on in Parliament the coming days. Now, I knew Helen was a smoker so I expected her to defend smoking – however, her opinions on the smoking ban were as strong as mine were; and not in the way I liked. After a 45 minute debate, to which we dragged the café owner into the conversation (who took my side and was for the smoking ban), after we almost walked out of the café swearing never to talk to each other again and after we were heard arguing all over the café, we came to an impasse. She believed that there are more important things to ban in society today such as pesticides and hormones in food, which I agreed with but banning smoking was paramount. So with no resolution we agreed to disagree and despite our warring lunch date, we partly amicably with our friendship intact and our opinions even stronger.
But I could shake off the feeling of anger that rose within me over the course of our lunch. So I did what I always did when I was angry, upset of passionate about something; I wrote about it. Feeling that it was not enough I sent it off the Cyprus’ largest English-speaking newspaper and forgot about it, until 10 days later when it appeared in the paper, in dark blue ink, exactly as I wrote it:
Sir,
Smoking is disgusting and smokers are selfish. I have the right to say this because of two reasons.
The first is because my uncle (a non-smoker) passed away from cancer, my mother (a non-smoker) has had cancer twice in the last five years (breast then skin) and my 20-year old cousin (surprise, surprise, also a non-smoker) is currently undergoing a grueling form of chemotherapy because he is also has cancer. To see him losing his hair is heartbreaking.
It is evident that cancer runs in my family, which brings me to my second point; that after four years being a smoker, I quit last year. It was hypocritical of me to continue to smoke when smoking is the number one cause of cancer, when 1.3 billion people around the world smoke and half are expected to die from it, according to the WHO.
And yet, our current government, that brands itself as being one that cares for the people is against casinos but pro-smoking? The AKEL party was AGAINST the smoking ban. So now we have the overly-generous law of allowing smoking in outdoor public spaces – AND EVEN indoors in privately-owned companies. Are we idiots? Does this solve anything? So you can’t light up in a night club – but what about at work? What about the army where boys usually start smoking? Or is that not a public place?
The USA with its gun laws has banned smoking; Turkey has banned smoking; hell, even India with its population of one billion, poverty and hundreds of other problems has banned smoking and we can’t even do it properly?
Another mistake: instead of enforcing the law during the summer when people can smoke outside and when it will not be such a shock to the system (literally) the law comes into effect on 01 January 2010 (as if it’s some kind of celebration) when it will be cold and smokers will find it hard to adjust to smoking outdoors (although the UK has pulled it off!)
I challenge any Member of Parliament to reply to this letter or if they have the guts and explain themselves or to ask the Cyprus Weekly for my email and write to me explaining how they think this law will make a difference. But for some reason, I think they’re too busy looking for a lighter.
Yet on a personal and social level I don’t feel the article was enough; which is why I have decided to expand upon it with this essay. My reasons are personal. As mentioned above, I have had people close to me suffer for the disease. Smoking being the number one cause of cancer (though not the only cause) should be curbed, which is why I am not trying to raise an army of non-smokers through these words here.
At the time of writing the law has been passed to ban smoking as of the 01.01.10. However, it is expected that the government will try and create loopholes in order to circumvent the smoking-ban and thus render it ineffective. For example, it is believed that the ban will not be enforced in the army where boys pick up the habit. Already, because of the nature of the law, that prohibits smoking only indoors, people will be able to smoke on the beach, in the street and in parks. The law already is cushy and comfortable for smokers, given that the climate of Cyprus is warm and that most venues, excluding night clubs have tables outdoors. Ye another conspiracy theory I heard is that cafes will create enclosed spaces in order for smokers to be shielded from the elements, like the sun, wind and fresh air and will be able to cocooned themselves in the smokers’ lounge with cigarette smoke while the sip on their latte and play tavli. What joy!
The bill in Cyprus’ 56-member parliament voted in overwhelming majority to ban smoking by 27 member for the ban, three against and one abstention (the other 16 members are reserved for Turkish-Cypriots MPs who will retake their positions once a solution has been found). Cyprus had banned smoking in public places in 2002 and back then there were even plans to fine people CYP 1,000 for smoking while driving, which was a pioneering legislation that never went beyond planning stage. However, the current smoking ban must address, correct and implement the 2002 law that is so flexible it can qualify for gymnastics for the next Olympics and with loophole so wide you can push an elephant through it.
The revised law has prompted a strong response from the Cyprus Federation of Restaurateurs who stated that ‘music, alcohol and cigarettes go together’. Yes, and in the 60s people believed that smoking calmed the nerves, which lead to smoke in the workplace and even pregnant women smoking. That had come and passed and so will smoking in public spaces, so change is inevitable. The 2002 law was flouted almost religiously by restaurateurs due to lack of implementation. Well who wouldn’t flout the law if the policemen are ‘too friendly’ to fine a restaurant owner or a person smoking in a café because they are distantly related to the café owner. Excuses such as ‘she’s my wife’s cousin’s son from Australia…’ is a common statement heard by cops refusing to take out their handcuffs and arrest people… saying that they’d rather use it on their wife… hmmmmm… but not while she’s smoking!
The irony is that smokers in Cyprus only amount to 29% of the population. An anti-smoker will say that 29% is just over a quarter of the population; whereas a smoker will say that 29% is just below a third of the population and should have more rights. It’s the half-full/half-empty cup-theory. Regardless of this, Cyprus is just below the EU average of 31%, which is a pleasant surprise as it feels that more Cypriots smoke. However, if is not certain that the number includes under 18s, in which case it could be much higher.
Yet, even if school-children do not actively smoke, but their parents do the child is still at risk. It has been discovered that a high percentage of Cypriot children has a alarmingly high levels of nicotine in their blood stream due to passive smoking. Traces of metabolised nicotine, known as cotinine, have been found in the saliva of 94% of children from non-smoking households and 97% of all surveyed children. This proves that even if a child is raised in a non-smoking household it is still at risk. Yet, the adults are to blame for smoking.
Statistics by the WHO give insight into which countries are the largest smokers. It is true to form that men smoke more than women, in some cases due to cultural reasons, such as in Iran where only 2% of women smoke, compared to 22% of men or in Uzbekistan, where 1% of women smoke to 24% of men. However in Saudi Arabia, 8% of women smoke compared to 19% of men, so perhaps cultural restrictions are eased in the Arabian Kingdom. There are some shocking statistics such as in Kazakhstan where 65% of men smoke compared to 9% of women, and Russia too has 60% of men smoke compared to 16% of women. In the USA it’s more equal with 24% of men smoking and 19% of women, however south of the border in Mexico, only 13% of men smoke and 5% of women. In Ghana 7% of men smoked compared to 1% of women and in Sweden 18% of women smoked; 1% more than their male counterparts.
However culture is partly to blame. In some countries, culture dictates that men should smoke while it is un-lady-like for women to smoke. Smoking in Cyprus, is not only considered normal, it is almost mandatory. Smoking seems cool, chic, tough and classy. This image is so engrained in Cypriot mentality that 47% of all high-school pupils have tried smoking cigarettes at least once while 16.6% (one in six) smoke regularly. Yet now, the image of the cool smoker is sapping and a clean set of lungs are more attractive. However, one in 10 deaths in Cyprus are linked to smoking and healthcare for smoking amounts to 8% of the budget. These are trends that must be reversed. Interestingly, the increase of mobile phones has led to a decrease of teenage smokers, as they are busier texting than lighting up.
The risks of smoking, however are not merely meant for smokers, but for passive smokers too. One report showed that non-smokers who are regularly exposed to passive smoke increase their chance of developing lung cancer by 20-30% and having a stroke by 82%. Facts like these, that are scientifically-proven and not merely random numbers pulled out of a hat is the reason why the smoking-ban is imperative. Smokers complain that banning smoking is social racism and that their rights are being infringed, but what about the right to free air (as important as the right to free speech) that is being suffocated by too much cigarette smoke in the room? If you want to smoke, do so, but in the luxury of your own home, away from children and other non-smoking members of your family.
I was a smoker for about four years, who on average smoked up to five cigarettes a day of the lightest type I could find. I was as selfish as possible, genuinely believing that I could smoke where I liked. Now that I stopped I realized how wrong I was and also, how little resistance I encountered from non-smokers, perhaps it is because I lived in Europe prior to the smoking ban. Yet, the third thing I realized was how disrespectful smoking was, to other but also to myself. When people in the world have not got access to clean water and smokers are placing a flaming stick to the lips and inhaling, we have to wonder how wrong we have got it. The health risks are astronomical. According to the WHO, of the 1.3 billion people worldwide half are expected to die of smoking-related illnesses.
But smoking is harder to quit and I admire the people that do. I quit because of a throat infection, so I quit because I had to rather than because I wanted to. But I was determined to make the best of the situation. I couldn’t eat let alone swallow and refrained from sucking on the burning stick for a week. One week somehow turned to two. Two weeks to a month… The hardest month was the third, where I literally felt I needed the nicotine. But the moment I realized I was leaving my smoking-persona behind was on a train in Croatia. My friend and I were traveling from Split to Zagreb on a night train. In our six-seater cabin was a young and friendly Croatian couple that was drinking beer and smoking. ‘Would you like one?’ they asked us. My friend and I decline but they certainly liked their smokes. They literally were lighting one up before they even finished the one in their mouth. The cabin was filled up with so much smoke, that I could feel it landing on my hair and caressing my skin in a sickly-sweet way. My nose started running, I began coughing and my face was streamed with tears. It was at that moment that I knew I was being purged of the nicotine-addiction sin. It was so disgusting I might as well have got off the train and licked the pavement.
Yet it is hard to quit smoking when lighting up becomes such a ritual. I remember, at university, I would go to my friend’s house and we’d have a coffee and a smoke together and catch up on the days news. Or after a long and hard day (writing my essays at the library!!!) I would go home, open a glass of wine and light a cigarette while sitting in the garden if it was warm or hanging out of the window like an orangutan if it was cold, which lead to my room smelling like a pub, especially if I spilt the wine – but alcohol is another issue… and no… it don’t believe that should be banned!
While at university, I went on holiday with friends to Andalusia and deiced to visit Gibraltar. On crossing the border from La Linea to the Rock we were instantky greeted by a doule decker bus, the quintessential symbol of Britishness which had a massive advert of a cigratte brand. The advert was basically an ‘up yours’ to the Spanish who have deemed cigarette adverts illegal. I was genuinely shocked to see a cigarette advert since the Marlboro Man on billboards when I was a child. However, not only have people been shocked by adverts espousing the evils of smoking but some people actually believe that they indirectly encourage smoking. Nevertheless, anti-smoking ads have become more extreme, and clever, as the anti-smoking awareness campaign grows. An anti-smoking ad in the UK which involved a child talking about his mother dying from smoking raised alarm bells everywhere with people saying advertisers went too far and some even questioning how a four-year old could be so convincing. Another anti-smoking as where a girl said that she didn’t fear spiders, clowns or bullies but did fear her mother dying of smoking was deemed too scary and distressing, received 51 complaints and was only shown after 7.30pm. It seems that airing these ads, though distressing at least make an impact, as some others such as ‘Don’t Smoke. Think’ have little impact and are virtually ignored. It turns out the strong ads win because according to the Department of Health 4,730 smokers sought advice on quitting smoking as a direct result of the ‘I’m scared for my mother…’ campaign. I suppose that gives a new meaning to the phrase shock therapy.
However, the most upsetting of adverts are to be found on cigarette packets. In my opinion, they are truly repulsive. There is one picture of a man with a horrifyingly engorged throat cause by smoking. It is so upsetting I felt nauseous (see: http://bizcovering.com/marketing-and-advertising/graphic-repulsive-anti-smoking-ads-are-they-effective/).
Another image showed rotten teeth, rotten lips, an man with a fishing hook stuck through his check denoting the phrase ‘hooked’ as well as portraying a fetus in an ashtray.
There are ads on packets showing ‘social’ repercussions such as a woman talking to a man who is not smoking and ignoring the one that is. These perhaps have little impact visually, but socially many men and women will admit to preferring a partner that does not smoke. Though perhaps this is not mainstream, the pool is growing. However, smokers have found a way to circumvent these ads too, and not just the cheesy ones, by putting a sticker the size of the advert on the packet thus smoking freely without seeing the rotted teeth or burnt lungs pictured on the packet.
I never realised the power of the pen until I made comment on a social networks about smokers and that they should ‘REPENT: UR ERA IS OVER’. As a jest I also made a comment that smokers should ‘go fug themselves’. Of course there is some truth in every jest, but most smokers saw the barely minimal funny side. Except one.
This colleague, who I had on my social network list, decided at the most inopportune time to raise a private non-work related issue in the workplace. ‘What right do you have to swear?’ she screamed, trying to act all mighty ‘your comment insulted me and my father’. Her smoking insulted me and my mother who doesn’t smoke. At one point she actually turned to the boss and said ‘well George here told us to go fuck ourselves’ the way a child runs to a parent to ‘tell on me’.
The situation was starling with me shaking with anger all day at work and terminating my personal friendship with certain colleagues. But there is nothing like cancer to put things in perspective. So when someone tells me to go fuck myself, I think nothing of it. I have more important things to worry about, such as my and my family’s health.
And that’s what riles me up about smokers. They are completely self-righteous. And their righteousness takes colossal proportions often shouting and demanding to have their ‘rights’ protected while polluting their body and affecting others’ around them. But they refuse to see this. They choose to cloak themselves in a shroud of cigarette smoke so thick that they can’t see through. Nor would they want to
