Smoking Expanded
From Mod Mania
SMOKING EXPANDED
Sprung from early religious ceremonies dating back as far as 5000BC, smoking literally took the world by storm. Due to European exploration and conquest of the Americas, tobacco was spread quickly and the fine practice of smoking was virtually global. This new social activity created by the cigarette seemed to resonate within people from all walks of life. In the small world in which we live now, smoking has become quite at home. Globally more than one billion people smoke, evenly spread though the majority of all human societies and majority of them started smoking in their early or mid teens. Industrially manufactured cigarettes have become easily accessible and are cheap to produce. How has something, now deemed in our society as dangerous and the cause of many diseases, been allowed to thrive and continue in mass production? Why do people start smoking and still smoke in the light of the evidence that has been found in recent times?
Interesting patterns have been formed surrounding the perception of smoking throughout time. Seen as holy in some cultures, evil by others, smoking has been constantly viewed in varying lights. In the Victorian era smoking a pipe was considered to be gentlemanly and give an air of sophistication however in other cultures, in other countries, it may be seen as vulgar. With modern medical studies, it is proven to be a deadly hazard to our health, however in the past it had been viewed as a panacea, curing disease and giving immortality.
There are considerable reasons why billions of people smoke, and play little regard to the constant warnings. First of all, those people grow up with and being surrounded by smokers tends to smoke rather than people who grow up in non-smoking environment. In this case, the most obvious example is family. Basically, children always copy the elder’s activities especially their parents. Plus, the children in those ages like to experiment to the new things, so when they saw he elders smoke which seems to look cool, they will copy that act naturally. Therefore, most of children try to start smoking because they see their parents, grandparents or elder siblings smoke. For example, from my experience, my cousin started smoking because my uncle who is his father is smoking. Secondly, people tend to start smoking because they want to be accepted in some social groups in order to look and act like them. For example, the group of friends in school, or the group of co-workers at the work places. The reason is those people might think that when all of them act the same, such as smoking, they will have the same attitude and talk to each other easier. In another word, people start smoking because smoking helps them to make friends easier. Or in some cases, which I saw in some movie, the underling’s start smoking because they try to please and satisfy their boss, in case of the boss loves smoking. Lastly, the popular reason that makes people start smoking is people need cigarettes in order to cope with stress or nerves. For example, as we can see, many people smoke more cigarettes than usual when they were stressed, bore or feeling lonely.
However, mostly, after people did try to smoke, they will be addicted to it and it will be very hard to quit, especially for people who are living with a family member or partner who smokes. Smoking is an addictive pastime. By burning the cigarette, the nicotine becomes an active substance and can be absorbed by the lungs. The reasons for smoking are varied and complex. The mixture of the addictive nicotine and the desire to smoke often outweigh the option to stop. People who smoke enjoy the nicotine in the cigarette, and many also see it as an enjoyable activity in a social environment. There are connoisseurs who enjoy the taste of a fine Cuban cigar as much as a fine bottle of wine.
In an attempt to curb the numbers of people smoking, campaigns are launched annually and billions of dollars are spent on anti smoking adverting. Cigarettes have had an intriguing advertising history. During the 19 Century stereotypically, cigarettes were advertised towards men. Smoking in public, for example, had been reserved for men during the Victorian times. If a woman would smoke in public it was perceived as associated with promiscuity. Early adverting run in the 1870's started placing collectable cards in each packet of cigarettes. This medium was used in world war 1 and 2, and spread heavily as cigarettes were heavily subsidises or free. This spread cigarettes around the world, and as they were free and seen as an incentive, a way of giving 'hope' to the soldiers. As an outcome many people became heavily addicted after the war. Prominent advertising around the 1950's and 60's still included a sexist stance. The 'Marlboro man' was conceived in 1954 as a way to turn filtered cigarettes, perceived as feminine, into a male orientated product. Turning Marlboro's old advertisements like 'Mild as May', this masculine cowboy image transformed the cigarette. To sustain the image of a masculine product many companies like Marlboro turned to male dominated sport for sponsorship. Formula One auto racing and other car racing was heavily sponsored by the cigarette industry. Other male dominated sports such as snooker; cigarettes also sponsored darts and rugby league. However, gradually cigarette advertising has been banned around the world, with health warning labels and images becoming mandatory for each deck. The health-warning message and images on every cigarette case and cigarette products show the awareness of the harmful effects of smoking by putting the scary images of the diseases from smoking. But I think this is kind of a fail campaign because many people seem not to care about the warning message or images. They are still purchasing it a usual and the number of smokers seems to be increased continually. On the 27th February 2005 the European Union in conjunction with the World Heath Organisation banned tobacco adverting in the 168 countries in the treaty.
Additionally, from my experience, in Thailand has the censorship of smoking on TV and cinema. They will blur the cigarette images on the TV programs or in the movies in case of they cannot remove those scenes from the shows. The reason is they want to reduce the number of smokers by not letting the people especially the children see and copy the act of smoking cigarette.
Cigarettes have had high taxes imposed on them. Smoking is available to all, and generates billions of dollars anally. By taxing them heavily in some countries, prices can be kept down in others to ensure they are affordable. In Vietnam a packet of cigarettes is 7,000 Dong, roughly 70c Australian. Or in Thailand, a packet of cigarettes is approximately $1-2 Australian. While in Australia, some cigarettes cost almost AUS$20. This system ensures everyone has tobacco that is affordable to them. Because of this system, from my experience, every time when I come back to Melbourne from my holiday in Thailand, there is the restriction of bringing cigarettes to Australia. 250 cigarettes is the maximum number of cigarette that one person can bring here. The reason for this situation might due to the government try to avoid illegally imported or buy those illegally imported cigarette from other countries that sell a cheaper price due to the increasing tax which making illegal importers a large profit.
These steps taken to curb the numbers of people getting addicted to smoking are strong signs of its place in modern society.
There are diverse social structures within the broad term of 'smoking'. Various social groups and cultures can be distinguished though subtle differences in the way they smoke, and how there cultures have interpreted different forms of smoking. In the Middle East a popular past time for much of the population is Hookah. Liking drinking a coffee, you sit in a Hookah lounge. The idea is to relax and take turns smoking a large water pipe with many smoking hoses around it. The tobacco is flavored to make the smoke taste of various flavors. In America, being the height of western society, they have spread the mass produced cigarettes via adverting and other platforms. This has dictated that, in most western societies they smoke cigarettes. However the use of chewing tobacco, used predominately in the south of USA, is distinctly an American habit within western society. In China, the world's largest tobacco producer and tobacco consumer, smoking is very much part of Chinese culture. Many Chinese like to smoke not only after a meal but during a meal. Expensive cigarette brands like Panda and Zhonghua are commonly given as presents to bosses and parents and are offered as a welcoming gesture to houseguests. Plus, cigarettes are also given as wedding gifts, presented to guests along with snacks at parties and left as offerings on the graves of men who have died of lung cancer. Here in Australasia we can make assumptions on the basis of what products certain people smoke. Rolling tobacco and papers are the cheapest form of smoking. At $16 this will roll around 100 cigarettes. The next is a carton of cigarettes costing around $14 for 25 cigarettes. There are expensive brands of high-class cigarettes, which can cost upwards of $50. Cigars are valued at around $40 each, but can reach upwards of $300 for the best. These automatically mean that there is a structure and hierarchy with the products themselves. All over the world people have interpreted smoking in different ways; Cigars, Snus, Beedi, Cigarettes, Kreteks, Dipping tobaccos, Gutka are just to name a phew. All these cultures have adapted ways to smoke tobacco. This excludes all the other forms of smoking that can be possible.
The diversity within other cultures has been connected with each other via the Internet and globalization, which has allowed for a huge product market to be born. From hand blown glass bongs, to industrially manufactured grinders all the way to 'Bongbath' and other products. Guides on the Internet detail how to make various smoking apparatus. Bamboo bongs, originating in Asia, can be made from a length of bamboo. These cheap but easily made ways to smoke are often incorporated and mixed to create interesting products. By placing holes on the side of a coke can, it can be used at a pipe. Gatorade drinking bottles and a length of garden hose can be modified to make a water bong. Light bulbs can be modified to become a vaporizer. Even apples can be hollowed to become small fruit pipes. Smoking paraphernalia has influenced the way individuals associate and partake in the act of smoking, and some quite inventive solutions have been found.
Smoking has grown into culture at many levels. Consumer demand has given rise to various products of all values. Hand crafted wooden Victorian pipes, at auction fetch prices well into the thousands, and are fascinating objects of beauty and history. This contrasted with using recycled materials to create free, cheap and easy made smoking equipment shows the diversity of how smoking has become so popular and adapted thought out time. The act of smoking has been captivated in various parts of our music, film, literature and art culture.
Today, there is an e-pipe (electric pipes), which is a smokeless electric Cigarette with, tobacco-free. That means it helps to reduce the harmful smoke and also reduce the number of people both smokers and secondhand smoke die from lung cancer or any disease caused by smoking. E-pipe is the modification of the normal cigarettes to the electric device. E-Pipe has an LED ember that turn into orange colour with each puff and a device that produces pseudo-smoke made from water vapor and uses ultrasound to atomize liquid nicotine into inhalable droplets. Plus, the device contains a small lithium battery that atomizes a liquid solution of nicotine that produces vapor that looks like smoke and is inhaled by the user. However, because of this device is still quite new and unknown, thus it seems to be illegal in some countries such as Australia and New Zealand. But in other countries, it requires government approval before this product can be sold, such as Canada and Denmark.
In conclusion, smoking seems to be as holy in some cultures, evil by others. Depending on each person’s attitude. It might help some people to feel better by reducing the stressful, or help some people to make friends easier. But it also can kill some people as well. Pictured in favorable light or not smoking has been around for a long time and will continue to operate for it has deep roots in our society, and indeed all cultures around the world.
References
• Virgin Blue International Airlines Pty Ltd, Procedures and Allowances : Duty Free Limits, 2010, http://www.vaustralia.com.au/before-you-fly/duty-free-and-customs/index.htm
• Cigarettes Below Cost, History of Cigarettes and Smoking, 2010, http://www.cigarettes-below-cost.com/history_of_cigarettes.html,
• Smoking-Facts, Some Quick Smoking Facts, 2010, http://www.smoking-facts.net/
