10 of the worst things about being a smoker

It's not all it's cracked up to be.

Almost nobody expects to become a full-time smoker when they have their first cigarette. And it's rarely what you expected once you get there. Most smokers have considered quitting at some stage, with good reason. Here's a quick round-up of the annoying realities of being a smoker.

1. The smell

Just because you can’t smell it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. That stale tobacco stench is never too far away and you’ll always exude a faint whiff of Eau de Ashtray.

2. The money

Oh god, the money. If you want to depress yourself, simply get out a calculator and a piece of paper and work out how much you spent since you started smoking. Then go and have a little cry.

3. Steep hills are your Kryptonite

Hell, even moderate inclines will leave you wheezing and breathless. The worst thing is when you find yourself being overtaken by a small child when you’re trying to make your way up an average slope. Smug, non-smoking minors…

4. Trying to keep up with pub conversations

If you’re constantly popping in and out for a smoke, it’s almost impossible to keep up with the conversation. This must be what it’s like to get old. “Who? What are you talking about now? Are we still talking about Johnny from down the road?”

5. The fear of running out

Every smoker has had the fear when they start to run out of cigarettes at night time. It says something about your state of mind that a one-hour round trip to the shop at 11pm is more inviting than sitting up with an empty box of cigarettes.

6. Missing your favourite songs at gigs

Even if you only take one cigarette break when you go to a concert, you’re almost guaranteed that you’ll end up missing your favourite song. You'll inevitably catch the last few bars as you come back into the venue. It’s like the smoker’s equivalent of Murphy’s Law.

7. Being a social outcast

Random strangers judge you when you smoke on the street. Parents keep their children away from you. Even your friends will move if they find themselves standing downwind of you. It's a brave new world and smokers aren't invited.

8. The coughing

Most smokers have at least 50 types of cough that they employ on a daily basis. That includes everything from the constant, hourly splutter to the five minutes spent hacking up a lung first thing in the morning.

9. The denial about your addiction

“I'm not addicted... I just enjoy it… I don’t want to give up… I could quit if I wanted to… I’m only a social smoker.”

10. What it's doing to your health

We don't really need to elaborate on this one, do we?