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Is Smoking Cool?

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Writer & Geek — 054: Is Smoking Cool?

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Smoking is possibly one of the worst habits anyone can indulge in. Still, people end up reaching for one at regular intervals. Here, we talk about how the practice of smoking came into existence and how it has evolved over the years.

Smoking and its impact across the Globe

1. The origin of tobacco can be traced back to 6000 BC, in the American continent. It was considered medicinal and used as a painkiller.
2. Smoking cannabis can be traced back to 2000 BC, India. It is also mentioned in Atharvaveda.
3. Cannabis smoking in the middle east was common, especially Hookah. Even women took part in it privately.
4. Christopher Columbus played a big part in getting it to the European continent
5. 1531 — first tobacco cultivation in Europe.
6. By 1600, tobacco became an integral part of the society as a good section started smoking.
7. In 1560, Jean Nicot took tobacco with him to Spain from France
8. In 1571, a Spanish doctor named Nicolas Monardes, apparently “found out” tobacco could cure 36 health problems (what a joke!)
9. In 1588, Thomas Harriet, a Virginian, said that smoking gives the daily dose of tobacco. Not surprisingly, he died of nose cancer.
10. English King James I was one of the first to speak against smoking
11. Tobacco used as an exchange during these time. The barter system did rely on tobacco.
12. Africa was introduced to tobacco by Arab traders in the 13th century, It was popularised by French merchants in 1600 by bringing tobacco to Senegal & Gambia.
13. The 17th century saw Japanese use a device called Kiseru. It was a long-stemmed device.
14. In 1760, Pierre Lorillard set up the Lorillard Tobacco Company in NYC. it is the oldest tobacco company in the US.
15. Nicotine was discovered in 1826 and found to be harmful to humans.
16. 1836, Samuel Green mentioned that tobacco is an insecticide, a poison which can kill.
17. Chinese got into the habit of smoking opium due to colonialism. The British got them addicted to opium and it resulted in the Opium Wars.
18. Chewing tobacco became popular among cowboys in the 19th century. It was more popular than smoking.
19. By 1901, smoking was catching up with 6 billion cigars and 3 billion cigarettes sold.
20. In 1902, Britisher, Philip Morris set up Marlboro brand. 1913, R. J. Reynolds set up the Camel brand of cigarettes.
21. World Wars saw a tremendous increase in smoking. It was called soldier’s smoke and was included in the soldier’s ration.
22. By 1923, Camel took over 45% of the market in the US. Which led to Marlboro marketing it as women’s cigarette in 1924. They called it Mild as May. The number of women smokers tripled over the next few years.
23. Nazi Germany has one of the most powerful anti-smoking movement.
24. During the 1950s evidence of smoking leading to lung cancer began popping up.
25. In 1952, Kent Brand developed Micronite, a cigarette which contains asbestos. It was shelved shortly afterwards.
26. In 1953, Dr Ernst L. Wynders found that cigarette tar causes a tumour in mice
27. In 1956, first menthol cigarette was released by RJ Reynolds called Salem.
28. In 1964, regulations in cigarette advertisements were placed after the finding on Smoking and Health report made it clear that smoking causes lung cancer.
29. In 1965, Britain takes cigarette commercials off television
30. In 1966, health warnings started popping up on packets
31. In 1968, Bravo, a non-tobacco cigarette brand made of lettuce. Mega Failure!
32. The US takes off cigarette advertisements in 1971
33. The first national Great American Smokeout takes place in 1977. It is an annual event which takes place on the third Thursday of every November.
34. In 1982, it is found out that second-hand smoking also leads to lung cancer
35. In 1985, lung cancer overtakes breast cancer as the number one cause of women’s death.

India and Smoking

1. The first act to add a statutory warning on packets came into existence in 1975
2. Public smoking banned in Kerala in 1999. The first state in India to do that.
3. On September 8, 2000, the complete ban on tobacco and smoking advertisements came into effect.
4. On Dec 1, 2004, prohibition of selling tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institutions came into effect.
5. In 2007, Chandigarh became first city smoke-free. Shimla followed.
6. On Oct 2, 2008, public smoking was banned nationwide public
7. In May 2009, mandatory pictorial warning covering at least 40% of the label came into effect. It also stated the use of only two languages on the packet.
8. Hookah ban carried out in many cities during 2011–12
9. On October 2, 2012, theatres implemented to play “Sponge” and “Mukesh” — two awareness advertisements before movies.
10. On October 2, 2013, these were replaced by “Child” and “Dhuan”.

Smoking is a practice that has many adversities associated with it. If you are someone suffering from it, reach out and seek help.

Originally published at https://www.writerandgeek.com on October 30, 2018.

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