PUBLIC OPINION > About Half the Population Has Tried Smoking
SodaHead Living
2012/05/18 21:00:00
We always hear about the negative effects of tobacco, but the industry is still enoromous, and about 16% to 19% of the population still consider themselves smokers. Fortunately, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that teen smoking was down to a low of 8.3 percent the same year. We were interested in finding out more, so we asked the public a simple question: Have you ever tried smoking?
With more than 500 votes in, the results were pretty much split down the middle. We're not able to show how much respondents smoke -- it could have been a single drag, or it could have been a 30-year addiction. But based on comments, pretty much everyone hates it. The people who haven't tried it said they never will; the people who have tried it usually said it was nasty, or that they wish they could stop. But that's just the surface. We're more interested in breaking this down.
Filtered Results
Let's filter out the smoker vote. (No offense, guys, it's just for perspective!) First thing's first: Every single smoker said they'd smoked. In terms of reliability, that's an excellent sign. When their vote was removed, the portion of voters who had tried smoking dropped to 40%. This could include smokers who don't realize they're smokers, but it's pretty high. Still, we don't recommend risking it.
Smoking While Drinking
You may have seen in surveys or online dating profiles that when asking if you're a smoker, it sometimes includes an "Only when drinking" option. Here's why: Drinkers were 28% more likely than nondrinkers to have tried smoking. This is likely the result of reduced inhibitions and the environment. Alcohol and tobacco just seem to go together. At least, they did until smokes were banned from bars. But that's for another poll.
Teens Don't Smoke
Now for the stat you've all been waiting for. Are teens really smoking less? Unfortunately, we don't have any past stats to compare with, but teens were way less likely to have smoked than adults. However, we should point out that this could just be because they haven't had as much time to give in. That percent rose sharply until about the age of 25, when approximately two-thirds of voters had tried smoking. After that, it didn't shift at all. Make it to 25, and you're home free... Er, your home's smoke-free... Whatever.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about smoking. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
-
musicman95 2012/05/19 14:50:21
More polls by SodaHead Living
Sort By
- shenendoah 2012/07/18 16:55:14
Used to smoke and when I see a young person light up I want to bang his head against the wall.reply - Vijay Pawar 2012/06/20 01:27:49Could be more also.reply
- manu.lasat 2012/06/02 09:20:18tap prize mote hogger, om men-sen mote of willer stopper token.reply
- Jessica 2012/05/30 03:24:54+1I hate smoking.reply
- Sapphire101 2012/05/22 06:56:17NO!! For those people who smoke, this is a message for you:You may as well consider yourself a person who likes the taste of rat poison, fire, burning, gases so much that you are willing to take the risk of getting lung cancers, heart disease and a billion other unhealthy stuff. Thats the definition of smokers.reply
- Airhead 2012/05/21 21:59:43I used to smoke but I quit by using an electronic cigarette. They really work, when you get the good ones.reply
- х lเשє lคยﻮђ l๏שє х 2012/05/21 20:30:47I'll never smokereply
- loveall42 2012/05/21 19:15:15+1i quit about a year ago , i still fight the urge on a daily basis i started when i was 15 and am now 44 its nice ti see younger people finding better ways too bee cool because smoking addicion is hard to beat ive not given into my disire to have one but ist still a daily battle that i am glad to see more youger smarter people have no intreset ever smokingreply
- brandi lynn 2012/05/21 19:05:12+1and hlaf the country should stopreply
- Herman 2012/05/21 18:37:59
- Doctor 2012/05/21 16:58:19+1Never hav never will! The closest thing to smoking I have ever come to is Second hand smoke! My mom smokes inside, so ya never will!reply
- Afghanchat123 2012/05/21 15:55:09 (edited)no i am not smoker and i well never smokereply
- Sass 2012/05/21 14:31:45 (edited)+2My Dad smoked while I was growing up. He started smoking as a youth, as his family down south had a tobacco farm and he worked it. I never tried it, not even once. It's a disgusting habit that makes your breath, clothes, and hair STINK. Dad quit smoking years ago, and I'm glad he did.reply
- frozenKmadness 2012/05/21 13:04:06I know I have but I am not a smoker.reply
- shadow76 2012/05/21 11:49:09+1Never even tried one---gross!reply
- Heisenberg 2012/05/21 07:38:48+1Yes, I tried it once or twice, and it was vile and disgusting.reply
- BrittanyRose1991 2012/05/21 04:32:56+1I don't smoke and never will!reply
- GoreGirl 2012/05/21 03:55:58+1proud to say, just smoked my last cigarette tonight. just laying in my bed thinking about how scratchy and icky my throat feels, and the fact that my teeth aren't as healthy as they should be. holy crap, i think i've seen the light!reply
- Redskin 2012/05/21 03:16:43Only because I look Cool
reply - DeathByPartisanship 2012/05/21 02:56:53+1Not even once :Dreply
- Josh Robinson 2012/05/21 02:35:58+1Cigarette Smokers Suck BUTTS...!
reply - dsgredsfwe 2012/05/21 00:58:41
- BUD LITE 2012/05/20 20:40:43I smoked 2 cigs in middle school and never again after that.reply
- Rubyking 2012/05/20 17:05:47so?reply
- txchik 2012/05/20 16:54:03+1I've never smoked its just never appealed to me. I try not to be around smoker's. I think its an adult right to choose to, but at the same time I get annoyed when they complain when they get a smoking related disease.reply
- Inquisi... txchik 2012/05/21 22:19:36
- txchik Inquisi... 2012/05/26 16:44:23Yes I also get annoyed when ppl have a disease that is caused by their poor life choices, but continue to do what they know is making them sick. Then when the disease progresses, because they continue to do the poor choice expect others to be sympathetic. Sorry not going to happen and why should it. You have your opinion and I have mine. So lets agree to disagree.reply
- xXILoveVinnyBooXx 2012/05/20 13:49:15+1Never smoked, and never will.reply
- dasimon1 2012/05/20 12:34:18+1I quit smoking 6 years ago when the price was 5.95 a pack.I saved 26,000 bucks cause i quit. and i can';t stand the smell of it any more!~reply
- Zuggi dasimon1 2012/05/21 01:28:05+1I hope to join you someday soon.reply
- Mel the Witch POTL PWCM~JLA 2012/05/20 12:27:00+2I do not smoke, "And I think it stinks". But hay; if someone wants to smoke go ahead. It's they're right. Who am I to tell someone they can't? People should mind their on business..reply
- The_Infidel_Atheist 2012/05/20 09:10:29 (edited)Cigarettes are one of the smelliest things that I have ever smelt!reply
- john n 2012/05/20 06:09:44 (edited)+1Smoking cigarettes sucks ass, it would probably be safer too drink Drano...reply
- john n john n 2012/05/20 15:34:29 (edited)+1Ask Cartmann...
reply - Vanna 2012/05/20 06:03:42+2I smoke...but like onely one or two cigaretties a monthreply
- Darling 2012/05/20 05:06:52+2I was a heavy smoker but my husband hated it so I quit after the first year of marriage. After that my appearance cleared and I looked healthier and not so grey. I smelt better as well. Now when I smell people after they've had a cigarette I think, did I smell that bad????reply
- john n Darling 2012/05/20 06:11:54+1A++reply
- mark 2012/05/20 05:05:23I smoked for 20 years. I quit 16 years ago and have no desire to ever smoke again.reply
- L1 2012/05/20 03:38:54+1Never. I have had parents that were both heavy smokers.reply
- Madi 2012/05/20 03:07:32My boyfriend and I are 17 and he's been smoking since he was 13. I've tried a few drags from his cigarettes and isn't a big deal.reply
1
2
3
4
5
Next »
Last »
