Should cigarettes be made illegal?

Not necessarily though! So why do you think people start smoking in the first place? Also, one of the reasons people keep smoking is that after a while this becomes a habit, and you might find that even though you don't feel like smoking, you still smoke. I used to smoke so I'm not inexperienced in that sense.

That's true, and that was exactly my point although I think I should have elaborated on that.
The fact that people choose to smoke cigarettes knowing that it would harm them is not because they chose to, but because they still have no genuine understanding of what smoking would do to them. People think just because they can smoke and still get on with their daily lives means that smoking is actually not that bad. This is what I meant by rising awareness but this is somewhat unrealistic given that we would need to be taught this early in education.

Not necessarily though! So why do you think people start smoking in the first place? Also, one of the reasons people keep smoking is that after a while this becomes a habit, and you might find that even though you don't feel like smoking, you still smoke. I used to smoke so I'm not inexperienced in that sense.

I would say like 98% of smokers smoke knowing that each cig is extremely detrimental to their health. They make the choice to do so.

I smoked 20 a day from 17-21 and i dont think i ever met a person who did not understand or rejected the health risks with smoking. We smoked because we damn well enjoyed smoking and deemed it worth it over the negative health and £££ implications

People start smoking usually because people around them smoke, parents / friends / schoolmates. Once your addicted it becomes pleasurable to smoke. People might not like the £££ and health risks with smoking or the smell but they absolutely enjoy each cig they smoke

My biology teacher at college smoked(and probably still does). The risks of smoking form a non-negligible part of the second AS biology exam, so he also has to teach it every year. Don't assume ignorance of the risks.

That's true but the what initiates smoking is a result of not knowing, or at least not caring, about the consequences. Surely after a while you don't even enjoy smoking it, whether that be cigarettes or illegal drugs. Yes, they might be people genuinely knowing what cigarettes might do to them but that's a rare. They either started smoking at an early age, which become a habit afterwards, or they value the pleasure of it more than their health (which wouldn't make sense because to have an relax mind you need a healthy body also).

It is wrong. Smokers know how much it damages their health - how could they not? They are bombarded with it every day, just look at all the sanctimonious non smokers on this thread.

Smokers start smoking typically down to just being curious as a teenager, or because of peer pressure. They chose to smoke the first experimental cigarette but unfortunately they become addicted very, very fast. Sometimes even after just one cigarette. I would say the majority of people in this country who smoke have tried to quit at least once, even if it was half hearted and failed. So the fact they keep smoking isn't out of habit or choice (if you ask a smoker if they could magically be free of their addiction right now, most will say yes), it's because they can't beat the addiction, which is ****ing difficult btw.

People who start smoking do know, they just dont care. After a while you do still enjoy smoking. Its not rare for smokers to know what the consequences are of smoking. Exactly, they value the pleasure of smoking more than their health. Those that don't quit

Well, in that case we should make illegal drugs legal and use their tax to improve the education for those that do care, just as in America.

That's true but the what initiates smoking is a result of not knowing, or at least not caring, about the consequences. Surely after a while you don't even enjoy smoking it, whether that be cigarettes or illegal drugs. Yes, they might be people genuinely knowing what cigarettes might do to them but that's a rare. They either started smoking at an early age, which become a habit afterwards, or they value the pleasure of it more than their health (which wouldn't make sense because to have an relax mind you need a healthy body also).

Have you ever actually met a smoker you absolute melt? Smokers are perfectly aware of the harms, it's shoved down everyone's throat for god's sake how could they not be?

Absolutely ridiculous that a majority of people voted think they should have been banned. Firstly, since when has banning things stopped people doing them? Secondly if I want to choose to purchase a product which may harm me that's my prerogative and I shouldn't have my freedom of choice curtailed. Really sick of this nanny state attitude to be honest.

Absolutely ridiculous that a majority of people voted think they should have been banned. Firstly, since when has banning things stopped people doing them? Secondly if I want to choose to purchase a product which may harm me that's my prerogative and I shouldn't have my freedom of choice curtailed. Really sick of this nanny state attitude to be honest.