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Wow, Europe -- you've got a smoking problem! Out of the top 10 countries that consume the most cigarettes per capita, only one country was not in Europe: Japan. The number one spot goes to none other than the Greeks who, according to a study by market research group ERC, smoked over 3,000 cigarettes per head in 2006. Here's how the top 10 fared:
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Chuck May 24th 2007 2:09AM
It amazes me, the idiot smokers who whine about not being able to smoke everywhere, while calling non-smokers whiners.
I remember when eating establishments first separated smoking and non-smoking areas. And smokers would breeze through, lit cigarette in hand, just to be assholes, and defy anyone to say anything.
I was sitting in a chair in an auditorium, a no smoking sign ont the wall above my head. (The entire building was designated no smoking.) And a man walks up, lit cigarette in hand. I didn't say anything, didn't cough, but fanned the smoke away--not causing a scene. But the smoker barked at me and said, "If the smoke bothered you, then why the hell didn't you ask me to move my cigarette?" I asked him if he knew there was no smoking in the building. He responded that he did so I asked him, why the f*ck would I think he'd move his stupid cigarette? No response.
Not all smokers are this stupid. But I have been told (by smokers) that I shouldn't have parties if I don't allow people to smoke in my home. (I told the idiot that, should I have a party, inviting him wouldn't be a consideration and had nothing to do with smoking.)
I helped a couple of acquaintences out when they were down on their luck. Both smokers, all I asked of them was not to smoke in my home. Both did (like I wouldn't find out about it). One even had the nerve to challenge me, telling me that it was no big deal--that it wasn't like he was going to fall asleep with it. Both too self-centered to see that the point was that I did not want smoking in my home. Never mind that they didn't pay rent; they stayed, though, until they got on their feet again. And when each fell on hard times again, when they needed a place to stay, I told them, well, good luck with that.
Sorry, but the courteous smokers have to pay for the "sins" of the assholes in their group--the same when rules are made for any other group. (Why do you think speed bumps are cropping up in neighborhoods?)
So go stink up your own house, and if you choose to do so, love cigarettes more than your own health and the health of your own children. Tell me how smoking is just like breathing to you. (I actually heard that argument from an ass who smoked around his kids, even though two of them had asthma. Nice.)
Now, excuse me while I go cry for you.
Connie May 24th 2007 2:46AM
Bravo Sarah! Even the "experts" have to admit (when forced to) cigarette smoke ALONE doesn't cause anything. They are saying it is the combination of it with vehicle & refinery emissons & various other pollutants that causes problems. Does anyone see the big picture here? It's obvious that the tobacco lobby is nowhere near as strong as the auto, oil & chemical lobbies. Otherwise we would be seeing pressure on those groups too. I live near the Houston metropolitan area & I'm not exaggerating when I say there are many days when you can see the air around you & more days than not are alert days where they advise you to stay inside if you have respiratory problems - & a majority of them are days when they advise EVERYONE to stay inside. Now tell me again how much damage a little second hand smoke will cause - or even better, tell me how the minute amount of CFC in asthma inhalers (which are inhaled not sprayed into the air) has triggered yet another witch hunt which has resulted in the pharmacuetical companies being forced to use another propellant that is not as efficient & doesn't last as long as the present formulation. The inhalers are expensive enough without having to buy them more frequently because of government forces changes. I guess they think we can afford to spend $80.00+ on inhalers & waste it by running around outside spraying it into the air. Our Founding Fathers must be spinning in their graves at the numerous ways the government is finding to control our lives. I've heard rumors about them wanting to barcode us with our social security number - not happening here, I've actually read my Bible.
Connie May 24th 2007 2:44AM
Chuck, I'm so sorry you've had so many negative experiences with smokers. There will always be a few in any group that make all look bad. Almost all the smokers of my acquaintence are very considerate with their smoking - waiting until seated in the smoking section before lighting up and respecting the wishes of those who don't want smoking in their home. (And quite a few of them are smokers) Even in open air situations like kid's sports I always moved away from the bleachers to smoke. I just resent those who try to blame smokers for the problems of the world. If they want to make the world a better place they need to clean up air pollution from the major sources (vehicle, refinery & chemical plant emissions) & maybe even apply their watchdog scrutiny to other problems like alcohol abuse that cause more damage than cigarettes. When was the last time you worried about someone getting violent because they had smoked too many cigarettes? Or worried about the smoker in the car behind you? We need to get our priorities straight.
Ariel May 24th 2007 2:51AM
Years ago, in the height of the ruckus over tobacco marketing, RJR Nabisco (from the RJ Reynolds tobacco merger) publicized their marketing plan, which included Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Third World developing nations, to make up for the market loss in North America, particularly the US. This was a deliberate plan, not a coincidence. I saw it in print. Maybe it wasn't publicized. Maybe I was working (temp) for RJR Nabisco at the time...
Wendy May 24th 2007 3:09AM
It never ceases to amaze me how much non-smokers claim that they do not want their health put at risk by breathing in second hand smoke. It is dangerous they say. But at the same time these same people are cleaning their babies toys with Lysol, which is a registered pesticide, they wash their cloths with Tide, their dishes with Dawn, and the list of household chemicals that they subject their bodies to on a daily basis goes on and on. The shampoo that they use, the tainted spinach that they eat, the hormon containing beef and chicken and even the milk that they give to their children. And now, it seems, even the air that they breath, not air that is polluted from second hand smoke from cigarettes, but the air that is polluted with the toxins from the chemical plants and the exhaust fumes from all of the gas gulling SUV's on the roads.
These chemicals are in their homes. People use them on a daily basis. They are killing us in a way that we can't even comprehend at this time. I am not saying that cigarettes are great, I am just saying that cigarettes are NOT the greatest threat out there at this time. We have children dying from cancer that are 5 years old. Is that from cigarettes? The cancer rate for the general population is through the roof? Is that from second hand smoke or from everything else we are exposing our bodies to? I just think that people need to take a broader look and not be so fixated on one thing. Yes, second hand smoke can be harmful, but so is that glass of chocolate milk you are giving to your kid, or the make-up you are buying for your teenage daugher, or that bar of soap that your family is using to take a shower with. Look into these things and when you find out what is in all of the stuff that you are using at home, that second hand smoke issue that you have to deal with from time to time won't seem like that big of a deal anymore....
Joyce May 24th 2007 3:38AM
I'm addicted. Would love to quit for better health,less cleaning, fresher air, costs of cigarettes, health costs. I've tried numerous times and failed. People who aren't smokers just don't understand. This is not a habit, it's a true addiction.
rose May 24th 2007 4:09AM
please check which one is your reason to smoke...
1. you like to smell like a dirt ashtray
2.You like to shower each day and then stink before you get to work or school
3.You love rotten ashtray breath---yuk!
4.you like to gag and spit big chunks of mucus in the bathroom sink every morning
5.your co workers don't mind if you take 4-5 10 minute smoke breaks every day while they keep working
6.All your Christmas cards smell by the time people get them
7.Your kids homework stinks when the teacher corrects it.
8.When you get on an elevator, people either back up or get off earlier than they wanted to.
9.When you breathe, you wheeze.
10.You tell people you can quit whenever you want to but you don't want to because you like it so much.
Mister T May 24th 2007 4:50AM
Just a few comments regarding this list.....First of all, most of these countries, are far behind the United States in economic, and social development, with Japan being a glaring exception to this statement. The United States has made great strides in the last few years, toward the elimination of smoking, which despite what individuals like Wendy beleive, is one of the greatest and most documented threats to our health. I suspect that as the other nations on this list, climb up the socio-economic ladder, the incidence of smoking will fall as well.
It is a fact that we have an abundance of potentially harmful chemicals available to us as consumers, however I don't know of anyone that is "cleaning their babies with Lysol" which to my knowledge, is not a "registered pesticide."
Americans have demanded convenience and companies have invented many products, containing potentially harmful chemicals, as a response to that demand. While I am not ready to return to the days of lye soap, we definately need to reduce our production and usage of many of these chemicals and return to many of the more natural cleaners and personal hygenic products. The unfortunate truth is that many of these alternatives are neither as quick, convenient or inexpensive as their commercially produced, chemical containing replacements.
But, the bottom line remains, we are much better off with fewer individuals smoking or in other ways using tobacco products, and attempting to villanize other products as an excuse for tobacco use, is neither productive nor mature.
I personally would rather have tobacco farmers raise corn, wheat or soybeans which would assist with the erradication of world dependence on oil, and world hunger, but tobacco growing makes more money per acre than grain production, and that opens up an entirely new story.
Pat May 24th 2007 4:58AM
I have no doubt that cigarette smoking is bad for a person. I am an addict and I have tried numerous times to quit with no success but I have faith that one day I will be able to quit..We smokers try to be curtious and spend a lot of time getting in an area where it won't offend people who do not smoke. These people will come to where you are and stand down wind from you and fan the smoke away.
It isn't the smoker who goes to the store during halftime to buy cigarettes and hits some one with precious children head on. It's the beer drinker who goes down for beer.
I am convinced that non-smokers think they don't have to brush their teeth since they don't smoke. They offend us with their nasty smelling breath. I am not the only one who has this complaint. I have a sister in law who has otrocious breath but by golly she don't smoke. I would like to hear from others if they agree om this. Non smokers, please keep your breath clean. When you brush your teeth be sure and brush the inside of your mouth and your tongue. Do this about 3 times a day. You can be sure we smokers will be forever greatful. Thank you!
Charles Ivey May 24th 2007 5:24AM
I think it's funny that everyone in the USA gives in to the prices and the BS. You can R.Y.O. in the US for about $10.00 a carton which is a whole lot better than what they charge for factory rolls. On top of all of that it might be better for smokers to do that because the tobacco comes from a foreign country instead of the USA. The USA now grows most of it's tobacco on soils that were once used for Poultry Production. Everyone knows that they feed chickens Arsenic to kill parasites and allow them to grow to a greater size. The bad thing is that most of the Arsenic is left behind in the Urine and Litter. Remember it isn't smoking that causes Cancer but it's the Carcinogen (Arsenic) residing in the tobacco. Outside of the US they may not grow it in Arsenic. Do a search on Google - "Arsenic in Chicken".
Steve May 24th 2007 10:35AM
The author of the article needs an elementary school geography lesson. He said of the top the, all were in Europe with the exeption of Japan. Fact: Russia is not in Europe; Russia is part of Asia. How could anyone be this stupid? And they wonder why most of us just don't trust the major media these days.
Frank May 24th 2007 11:15AM
Steve, you’re an idiot. It is widely accepted that Russia is considered part of Europe—at least up until the Ural Mountains. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Russia
Joseph May 24th 2007 4:37PM
When I can drive behind a car that has a smoker in it, and still smell the smoke from 30 feet away, there's something wrong, when you see childrent in a car with parents who blatenly barely crack the window open while they are smoking, there's something majorly wrong with that. You don't see non-smokers going around who are alcoholics shoving vodka down your throats do you?
I live in Hawaii, the now "newish" laws that ban smoking on the beach, in front of public entrances and in bars and resturants are great, but are not enough, I believe the airports have the right idea, how about public smoking rooms paid for by tobacco taxes. These hawaii laws should be spread across the nation. I know there will be smokers who agree with me, but this is just how I feel, my son should have the right to not to be exposed to 2nd hand smoke. The military even has designated smoking areas, smoking is more of an excuse than a habit in the military, seems like most people who come into the military end up smoking, not because they like it, but because at times there is NOTHING to do, so smoking sounds like a reasonable past time, but as I said they have to go away from public entrances.
cristin Jun 18th 2007 7:10PM
Second-hand smoke doesn't cause lung cancer or any other health issues. I'm not a smoker, I'm just setting the record straight because this is one of the things I study in my lab. We exposed rats to constant cigarette smoke 24 hours a day from 3 cigarettes. These tiny, light weight animals had no health problems. People don't either.
Annoula Jun 18th 2007 8:25PM
Honestly, the Greeks smoke A LOT and I know this because I am 100% Greek myself; however, I do not smoke. People think I am weird when I am in Greece visiting family & friends because I don't smoke. But it's true!!! Believe it or not, smoking is part of the culture and that's what they do. They wake up in the morning, go to their local cafe-- have a coffee, smoke, read the newspaper or play tavli [backgammon] -- it's what we do.. in Greece & in the United States; especially in Astoria, NY where it houses over 45,000 Greeks and it being the largest Greek establishment outside of Greece [they have over 11 million people in the country itself]!
ellen Jun 22nd 2007 6:31AM
after reading the many comments I think it all comes down to this: you are going to find people who are inconsiderate no matter where you go and in every aspect of life. There will always be someone cutting in line in front of you at the bank after you've waited forever, someone who takes that parking space you've been patiently waiting for and someone who could have taken your life w/their car if you hadn't swerved just in time. And there will always be someone who smokes who is inconsiderate. It sounds as though many folks here have had encounters with people who have not had the consideration to think of them when they lit up. Personally, I leave my cigarettes at home when I go out. There are people out there that are rude, yes, but on the other hand it should be pointed out that for every smoker out there that annoys you there is another one, (like me!), that is going out of their way to not pass their second hand smoke on and is indeed trying to respect your wishes and protect your health. Be as righteous and angry as you must, but keep that in mind. And always, always be careful who you point the finger at. There are other things out there that are just as dangerous as second hand smoke that folk's subject other's to on a daily basis.
JFK Jun 22nd 2007 12:12PM
Your list is wrong! Nobody drinks more per capita than the Bolivians, NOBODY!
Patricia in Phoenix, AZ, USA Jun 22nd 2007 2:07PM
Smoking if BAD for everyone's health. It has NO redeeming qualities but infinite negatives. End of story!!!