So smoking in Spain and France seems quite prevalent

[Deleted member 17092]

As a US smoker who is more or less trying to quit constantly, and I recently did a France and Spain trip, it's like astonishing how popular smoking is vs the US.

The numbers are like 30% or so daily smokers.

In the US it feels much lower than that and it's honestly surprising at this point if restaurants with outdoor seating have ashtrays on hand. It's become quite antisocial to smoke.

I also feel like vaping was much less prevalent. Like it was quite rare to see someone with a vape.

This is just kind of an observation thread but I rather enjoyed being able to smoke while out and about and at restaurants without feeling like a dick as it seemed most people sitting outside were smoking at restaurants.

 

[It’s Time To Go]

It's common in Europe in general I find. Like when I was in New York I don't recall seeing a single person on the street smoking a cigarette, but in the UK and Ireland I see it every day.

 

[Farrac]

Maybe I just don't go out much anymore, but I was actually thinking the other day that there are considerably less people smoking on the streets (Spain) than a few years back.

 

[ApatheticDolphin]

One of the only areas where the US is ahead of Euro countries.

 

[DrewFu]

Yeah Europe (and Asia) still smoke like chimneys.

 

[Wrexis]

One of the only areas where the US is ahead of Euro countries.

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Yeah got to agree with this. Was in Barcelona recently and I was shocked how prevalent smoking was. It's 17% in the states vs 30% in Spain.
EDIT: It's 42% in Greece? Jesus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_tobacco_use

 

[John Dunbar]

the old continent still has class.

 

[Koukalaka]

Considering how notable the drop in people smoking has been in my lifetime here in the UK, going over to places like France and seeing loads of folks smoking always surprises me.

 

[hobblygobbly]

i also had a culture shock when I traveled to the U.S.

I wasn't aware that drinking alcohol in public was illegal in the U.S, to me as a German this is not even a thought, you can drink whatever you want in broad daylight in public, as long as you are not a public nuisance from binge drinking/nuisance drunk to a point people would call police.

I was reprimanded in the U.S because I didn't know this lol, drinking in public is something I do all the time

e.g. when take the IC/E train to go watch a hockey or football match here in germany in another city, me and my buddies pick up some beers and schnäpse, drink and walk to the train station, drink on the train, get off and head to the stadium and still drink. nobody cares. can't do that in the U.S

 

[Doggg]

It seems pretty strange to us Americans, yeah. Like here, I think we tend to associate smokers with poor, uneducated people, so it was surprising to me to meet well educated, middle class Europeans who smoke.

 

[DrewFu]

i also had a culture shock when I traveled to the U.S.

I wasn't aware that drinking alcohol in public was illegal in the U.S, to me as a German this is not even a thought, you can drink whatever you want in broad daylight in public, as long as you are not a public nuisance from binge drinking/nuisance drunk to a point people would call police.

I was reprimanded in the U.S because I didn't know this lol, drinking in public is something I do all the time

e.g. when take the IC/E train to go watch a hockey or football match here in germany, me and my buddies pick up some beers and schnäpse, drink and walk to the train station, drink on the train, get off and head to the stadium and still drink. nobody cares. can't do that in the U.S

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You obviously didn't go to Vegas, my dude.

 

[Micael]

The discrepancy depends a bit on the country, but yeah countries in Europe definitely tend to smoke more.

i also had a culture shock when I traveled to the U.S.

I wasn't aware that drinking alcohol in public was illegal in the U.S, to me as a German this is not even a thought, you can drink whatever you want in broad daylight in public, as long as you are not a public nuisance from binge drinking/nuisance drunk to a point people would call police.

I was reprimanded in the U.S because I didn't know this lol, drinking in public is something I do all the time

e.g. when take the IC/E train to go watch a hockey or football match here in germany, me and my buddies pick up some beers and schnäpse, drink and walk to the train station, drink on the train, get off and head to the stadium and still drink. nobody cares. can't do that in the U.S

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If you have ever seen those brown paper bags in US media, now you know why that is a thing.

 

[KillGore]

Noticed this as well the 4 times I visited Europe. I'm surprised they are so behind on this, yet so forward in many other things. Smoking is disgusting.

Edit: Saw a lot of smokers in Japan too.

 

[Sobriquet]

It seems pretty strange to us Americans, yeah. Like here, I think we tend to associate smokers with poor, uneducated people

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We do?

 

[mescalineeyes]

they're just now banning smoking in public places in my country on the 1st lol

 

[Carn]

It's common in Europe in general I find. Like when I was in New York I don't recall seeing a single person on the street smoking a cigarette, but in the UK and Ireland I see it every day.

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It's not that common here in The Netherlands. Sure, there are still people who smoke but the numbers decreased massively.

 

[jfkgoblue]

When I went to Lisbon, Portugal back in 2013 it was a huge culture shock when smoke-free buildings didn't really exist, that combined with the cigarette vending machines made it feel like I was transported back to the 90's.

 

[Paquete_PT]

It's getting better in Europe but yes, it's so good to travel to the US and not see so many people smoking on the streets, it's a breath of fresh air (no pun intended)

 

[electricblue]

i also had a culture shock when I traveled to the U.S.

I wasn't aware that drinking alcohol in public was illegal in the U.S, to me as a German this is not even a thought, you can drink whatever you want in broad daylight in public, as long as you are not a public nuisance from binge drinking/nuisance drunk to a point people would call police.

I was reprimanded in the U.S because I didn't know this lol, drinking in public is something I do all the time

e.g. when take the IC/E train to go watch a hockey or football match here in germany in another city, me and my buddies pick up some beers and schnäpse, drink and walk to the train station, drink on the train, get off and head to the stadium and still drink. nobody cares. can't do that in the U.S

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Come to Savannah or New Orleans next time, drink wherever you want

 

[TheMango55]

i also had a culture shock when I traveled to the U.S.

I wasn't aware that drinking alcohol in public was illegal in the U.S, to me as a German this is not even a thought, you can drink whatever you want in broad daylight in public, as long as you are not a public nuisance from binge drinking/nuisance drunk to a point people would call police.

I was reprimanded in the U.S because I didn't know this lol, drinking in public is something I do all the time

e.g. when take the IC/E train to go watch a hockey or football match here in germany in another city, me and my buddies pick up some beers and schnäpse, drink and walk to the train station, drink on the train, get off and head to the stadium and still drink. nobody cares. can't do that in the U.S

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Las Vegas and New Orleans

 

[Deleted member 56266]

wait till you see southeast asia

 

[Josh5890]

Yea smoking is less common and looked down upon in America, outside of the deep South and Vegas (which is really a world of its own)

 

[SnakeXs]

What would you have them do, vape? I hear that shit kills you, bam, all sudden-like.

 

[DryCreek]

.

 

[teruterubozu]

We're very Puritan here in the US.

 

[Poimandres]

Noticed this as well the 4 times I visited Europe. I'm surprised they are so behind on this, yet so forward in many other things. Smoking is disgusting.

Edit: Saw a lot of smokers in Japan too.

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Yes, quite popular in Japan but again it seems like more and more non-smoking establishments are popping up and smoking is being increasingly pushed into the shadows.

Good fucking riddance I say. I can't think of a single other habit that has such a large impact on surrounding people. The smell of cigarettes ruins the entire surrounding area.

 

[Hokey]

Looks like europe doing the right thing and just leaving errybody the fuck alone.

Australia is pretty bad for this nanny state crap.

 

[jfkgoblue]

Yes, quite popular in Japan but again it seems like more and more non-smoking establishments are popping up and smoking is being increasingly pushed into the shadows.

Good fucking riddance I say. I can't think of a single other habit that has such a large impact on surrounding people. The smell of cigarettes ruins the entire surrounding area.

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Weed is just as bad as cigarettes smell wise

 

[NickHyde]

it's pretty disgusting. And they also litter everywhere.

 

[CrazyDude]

Male:

Female:

 

[Deleted member 17092]

it's pretty disgusting. And they also litter everywhere.

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paris and Barcelona seemed quite well kept to me, like honestly much better than Chicago or nyc and more on par with Minneapolis

 

[GillianSeed79]

it's pretty disgusting. And they also litter everywhere.

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Yep. Just got back from visiting Portugal and it seemed like every other person was smoking it seemed. Also the beach was littered with trash. Cool place though, just surprised everyone smokes still in Europe.

 

[Deleted member 17092]

Looks like europe doing the right thing and just leaving errybody the fuck alone.

Australia is pretty bad for this nanny state crap.

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I honestly kind of agree. I sort of think the main problem is obesity and obviously being fat plus smoking ain't good. Obviously neither is best but it seems to me cracking down on the us manufactured food industry might do more good than a virtual smoking ban.

 

[Jon Carter]

It used to be worse in France. I remember as a kid, when smoking indoors in public was still legal, I was going through the mall and my eyes hurt because of the smoke. It's much, much better than back then.

 

[Deleted member 17092]

wait till you see southeast asia

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yeah I've lived in shanghai and that's another level

 

[Deleted member 17092]

It used to be worse in France. I remember as a kid, when smoking indoors in public was still legal, I was going through the mall and my eyes hurt because of the smoke. It's much, much better than back then.

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yeah last time I was in Spain before this was 2004 and you could smoke in department stores and I thought ok that's a bit much

 

[Glasgow Mega-Snake]

Really noticed it in Sweden that way less people smoke than here in Germany. I think it's the country with the least smokers in Europe today (though people using snus instead seems to be one reason)

I don't really mind if people smoke outside, but inside it's disgusting, I hate the smell in the clothes after visiting a smoking bar (and in Berlin way too many allow smoking inside because of some misguided idea of freedom )

 

[unicornKnight]

EDIT: It's 42% in Greece? Jesus.

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You have no idea. We have been smoking in restaurants, coffee houses etc even though it's been illegal for more than 10 years. The new government has just started enforcing the law but many places still allow it.

 

[Necromanti]

I probably inhaled more second-hand smoke in the UK within a month than I did over 5 years in the US. What really got me was people smoking at bus stops.

 

[TheMan]

I was actually struck by the same in Seattle, WA. Smokers and homeless folks.

 

[Hollywood Duo]

Italy is another country where it's very prevalent. Can't blame em though , if I'm sitting in some beautiful square drinking beer/wine a smoke is a lovely accompaniment.

 

[IneptEMP]

We're very Puritan here in the US.

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That has little to do with this subject.

 

[Charamiwa]

At my french University I could barely enter the building with the amount of people standing there smoking. It was crazy.

 

[PowerThroughLov]

We do?

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Yes, Id say that's a pretty common trope these days.

 

[Deleted member 17092]

Italy is another country where it's very prevalent. Can't blame em though , if I'm sitting in some beautiful square drinking beer/wine a smoke is a lovely accompaniment.

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yeah you get it.

 

[SolidChamp]

It's crazy how many men smoke here in Taiwan. You can't walk a block without a guy standing curb side puffing smoke into your path.

 

[Man God]

Same with east Asia. Can't stand it.

 

[san00ake]

I visited Sweden recently and was surprised by the amount of smoke people threw at my face on the streets.
Still light years ahead of Japan though, where for some reason people are still allowed to smoke in restaurants.

 

[Terra Firma]

I honestly kind of agree. I sort of think the main problem is obesity and obviously being fat plus smoking ain't good. Obviously neither is best but it seems to me cracking down on the us manufactured food industry might do more good than a virtual smoking ban.

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Smoking is way worse than obesity, especially because it affects the health of people who happen to be around smokers.

 

[Poimandres]

Weed is just as bad as cigarettes smell wise

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Of course mileage may vary (some people like the smell of either/both) so might as well expand it to smoking in general is insanely invasive to anyone in the vicinity of the smoker.