Even in the 60s, it was expensive, dirty, not really tasty, and to me never made sense. I stopped. I never dated women who smoked and found women who didn' want smoking boyfriends.
In the 70s when I had two children I pointed to the early death of my father and the emphysema being suffered by both my mother and mother in law to those kids to encourage them against smoking. My wife and I set an example - neither of us smoked.
We weren't surprised that our children both decided to smoke, but were disappointed. Our daughter gave it away after a couple of years and our son still smokes even though he can't afford it. The price of cigarettes in Australia now is horrendous and smoking is banned in cafes, restaurants and many other places that have been designated smoke-free environments eg, hospitals, airports, schools etc.
Smokers and smoking are unpopular in most circles of Australian society.
Our grandson arrived in 2001.
We tried to inculcate him with a range of values and always discussed the benefits of not smoking. But, as we all know, you can't put an old head on young shoulders and he smokes. I recall a conversation with him when he was about 15, "If you take none of the advice I have given you, at least take the advice not to smoke or take illicit drugs."
It fell on deaf ears. He smokes occasionally and I'm sure puffs a bit of marihuana. I tried to guide him in what I feel was the right direction. but in the end, we are masters of our own destinies and that applies to me in my 70s and him in his teens.
Such is life.
