I didn't start smoking until I was eighteen and only then when I was called up for my National Service in the army. After almost any training activity, there was an order "Fall out for a smoke|". Well not exactly an order but it seemed like it. Not that I could really afford to smoke on the thirty bob a week we got in the army, less deductions of course. It was always a toss up as to wether yu bought a packet of cigarettes or a couple of pints in the Naafi.
Fags though were relatively cheap and you could even buy a packet of five Woodbines. The fags could also last longer because they had no filter tips and more often than not there wasn't time to finish before being told to fall in again. All part and parcel of the military mind of course.
Still as I said today's smokers need to be persistent, although at today's prices I cant imagine how anyone on the minimum wage can afford to smoke and as for the young women, why do they do it?
I recall that the late Dave Allen was of the opinion that "kissing a girl who smokes is like licking an ashtray." Still he was a former chainsmoker who had given up so was probably biased. Cant say if he was right or not as its a long time since I kissed a smoker.
