Smoking and Non-Smoking: Finding Rational Boundaries Instead of Conflict

I don’t smoke, but my father does, and my mother occasionally takes a puff when her stomach feels uncomfortable. My father knows smoking is harmful, so he tries to hide it from me. Yet, from a young age, I developed a psychological aversion to smoking—not because someone lectured me, but because of cultural impressions and stories that portrayed quitting as almost terrifying.

There’s a famous quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a hundred times.” It implies that the real challenge isn’t stopping once—but staying stopped.

In a classic Chinese sitcom, I Love My Family (Episode 27), a highly principled character turns evasive when it comes to smoking. When told to follow a “reduction schedule” (five cigarettes the first day, four the next), he responds with panic, twisting the logic so that he could smoke more instead of less. To quit smoking, he resorts to excessive snacking, wandering streets, compulsive shopping, and seeking endless distractions. His physical symptoms—dark lips, pale skin, constant fatigue—made quitting look more frightening than smoking itself. As a child, this left a deep impression on me: Is quitting really that terrifying?

Famous author Haruki Murakami once wrote that he decided to quit smoking after waking up at midnight, realizing he had no cigarettes left, and feeling close to losing control. That moment made him realize he was no longer free—he was chained by addiction.

Personal Attempts and Realities

I once tried to help my father quit by buying him premium cigars in different flavors—Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta—thinking cigars might be a healthier alternative since they are not inhaled deeply. He tried them, appreciated the taste, but still returned to cigarettes. For many in his generation, smoking isn’t just a habit—it’s tied to work pressure, business culture, and social expectations. I can’t blame him entirely.

Eventually, I stopped pushing. After getting a cat, even cigars no longer felt appropriate. If there are pets at home—cats, dogs—smoking should be avoided entirely, as secondhand smoke harms them severely.

Smoking and Life Limitations

One often-overlooked downside of nicotine dependence is the limitation it places on lifestyle. When my father takes long international flights, he must smoke several cigarettes before boarding, and the moment he lands, he rushes to find an airport smoking room. Travel becomes a source of stress instead of enjoyment.

Smoking Culture Around the World

The intensity of smoking restrictions varies by city:

Tokyo: Smoking areas are strictly allocated. Some traditional restaurants even advertise “smoking seats” as a selling point. Older generations complain that Tokyo has become too strict.

Paris: At universities and office entrances, groups gather during lunch breaks to smoke and chat over coffee. Many Parisian women smoke more than men.

Greece & Italy: Two chairs, a board game, a cup of coffee, and a few cigarettes—elderly friends can sit together all afternoon.

These cultural differences demonstrate that smoking is not just a personal choice—it is part of social identity in many places.

The Core Issue: Health vs Freedom

Smoking is not a healthy habit. It harms both smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke. However, the debate should not be driven by emotional confrontation between smokers and non-smokers.

What society needs is clear boundaries and rational rules, not moral superiority or personal attacks.

What Should Be Done

Establish clear smoking and non-smoking areas.

Smokers should respect public spaces and limit smoking to designated zones.

Non-smokers should not aggressively demand that smokers quit immediately or shame them publicly.

Public health policies should focus on management and guidance, not hostility.

Conclusion

Smoking is a personal choice but one with public implications. The solution lies in setting logical boundaries—where both smokers and non-smokers can coexist without conflict. Instead of arguing, we should support healthier alternatives and promote responsible behavior.

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