Like most smokers I’ve tried to quit many times, and despite the graphic images on my cigarette packs, I still haven’t. Here’s the heart of a man who died of a stroke being held disrespectfully by a rough hand. Here’s an old woman with a hole in her throat. And here’s a mouth full of tarred, diseased teeth – and how about the one with the diseased tongue... because if a threat to your life doesn’t work, a threat to your appearance might.

Ok, I get it. Smoking kills. It maims. It sucks. Message received. Result? Nada.

By law warnings take up 75% of a packet, cigarette brands can’t advertise, and you can’t smoke indoors anywhere but your home. True, over the past 10 or 12 years smoker numbers have declined in Canada, but only from about 25% to 17% of the population, which isn’t that impressive considering all the regulations. I doubt the regulations make as big an impact on smokers as seeing family and friends die young and puffing. Even the cost can’t break the addiction. I remember hearing when I was a kid “as soon as these things hit a buck a pack, that’s it, I’m going to quit. Now cigarettes are around 11 bucks a pack! Maybe the government should revise their approach? The warnings just seem silly now.

I'd love to know what you think.  Feel free to comment below.  

Till then, "smoke 'em if ya got 'em!"