When I was in college, I described myself as anti-tobacco but pro-beer. How did I justify that?
Less addictive and less likely to become a daily habit though I did concede that if it does, it can be extremely ugly. However, when used in moderation, it is not bad for you. Think of it this way. Give a 19 or 20 year-old kid with no history of alcohol use a case of beer.
Tell him or her that you must have 1 every day until the case is finished but 1 is your limit. In the absence of any outside influence, 9 out of 10 times, I am betting that it will not progress to several beers every day and he or she won't have any trouble quitting or at least limiting consumption to 1-2 times per week.
Now, give the same kid a pack of 20 cigarettes. You must smoke 1, but only 1 every day. In that case, I would bet that there is about a 70 percent chance that they won't be able to limit themselves to just 1 by the 20th day. By then, they will be up to 3-4 per day. That's still a manageable amount that probably won't affect you much but after another month, you're likely up to 12-15. You need a cigarette almost every hour to feel satisfied. Not good.
If you are able to quit before age 40, you will most probably go on to live a full and healthy life but unfortunately, it usually doesn't happen. 75 percent of smokers say that they wish they never started. They say that they'll quit after college or when they start a family but sadly, it usually doesn't happen.
As for me, I started drinking at 19 as a college freshman. I usually drank about 4 or 5 beers once per week but rarely exceeded 6. Also, I seldom drank more than once a week. That's probably about average for a college student but I had a reputation as a big party guy because of my low tolerance. Looking back, that was likely related to Autism. Sure, I had plenty of fun and never got into serious trouble but I could get awfully silly after just a few drinks. I'm sure people laughed at my stupidity behind my back
Nowadays, I might indulge 2-3 times per week but almost never exceed 3 in one sitting. My consumption ticked up a bit during COVID but since brought it back down. I'm thinking seriously about either quitting or limiting it to social gatherings or special occasions. It's not because I think I have a problem but I usually don't enjoy it anymore. It usually just puts me to sleep. Also, I suspect that it may indeed be harmful to my health even in moderation.
Thankfully, I never tried tobacco because something inside told me that it would be a big problem for me, plus I knew how it would hurt my running. Indeed, a genetic test confirmed that I am vulnerable to nicotine addiction. Though I would still describe myself as anti-tobacco, I am not nearly as judgemental towards cigarette smokers nowadays.
A coworker saw my heartbroken expression after my grandmother died and took it upon herself to give me flowers. She is a smoker. Several servers at my regular restaurants have given me hugs every time I came inside. At least 3 were/are smokers. Now, what kind of self-righteous sicko could dislike people like that just because they have one bad habit that is difficult to break? I have wanted to quit sugar for years but haven't been able to do so.
A YouTuber who smokes in her videos has been very friendly to me in the comments section. She knows how to make people feel valued and appreciated, which is certainly an admirable quality. Could I be friends with someone like that? YES. Her smoking would not affect the friendship. I would never criticize her for it but would encourage her to quit if she wanted to do so. I still say that dating is a bridge too far because it doesn't fit with my lifestyle. It still hurts me to see someone that I care deeply about do that to themselves.
Who would win a long distance race with everything else being equal: A pack a day cigarette smoker or a 6 beer a day drinker? My money would be on the drinker.
No comments:
Post a Comment