Really enjoyed my short time in Paris. I generally think that Europeans have gotten so many things right that we Americans are still struggling with. But… what is with all the smoking, still, in 2026? Someone should tell them it’s bad for you. 🚬
@manton must be Paris. I felt the same when I visited Rome, it was crazy. Weirdly here in Spain it feels like something from the past.
@manton Hehe, I think the same when I visit the U.S. It really varies from country to country. Here in Sweden, about 6% of people are smokers, compared to 11% in the U.S. We do love our snus, though. 😊
@sod Well, that’s interesting! Maybe it’s more noticeable to me because smoking is not allowed anywhere near restaurants here in Austin. In Paris, it’s hard to find a sidewalk cafe with someone not smoking.
@manton In fairness, cigarette manufacturing is something else the Europeans have long cotton right. Their cigarettes are actually far less lethal and additive free compared to American ones.
@manton There are still a lot of people smoking world wide, the French just can't be bothered to mandate where and when you can smoke (free will) like down a back alley.
@alexandra @numericcitizen @KimberlyHirsh @patrickrhone.bsky.social @Eyebeemania @vladcampos @robbyred.bsky.social @manton @sod @alexito4
Reminds me of an old Jack Handy line, “I would never suggest the kids should smoke, but if you already do, it’s pretty good, huh?”
@numericcitizen @manton It’s a European thing. Even here in Cyprus many people smoke.
Many people are aware that cigarettes are bad for you because of the added chemicals. Therefore many now roll their own cigarettes using untreated tobacco which is healthy because it has no added chemicals.
Personally I smoke a pipe because pipe tobacco has zero chemicals and is good for your health. Nicotine is a very effective anti inflammatory and good for heath without chemicals.
It’s true. Clinical trials have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that nicotine is good for you. In fact some doctors are recommending that people wear nicotine patches in order to get the benefits of that. Not only that but they have discovered that the human body has nicotine receptors built-in. These receptors attach to nicotine and put it in the blood. Certain foods contain nicotine, for example tomatoes.
In other news .. France has its own colour on these two maps
🔗Wine Consumption Rates By Country
AND - on the smoking side .. we shouldn’t forget to include vaping … because when it comes to Vapes (like ‘arms’) - the US beats out the world - both in consumption and production - even with the massive massive health warnings.
Meanwhile - France beats out the US with coffee, though only by 25% (ish): 🔗Coffee Consumption Rates By Country
.. and yet for all of that
@bkryer When my parents discovered I was smoking as a teen, at one point my mother offered me a cigarette and said, “Don’t tell your Dad’, and my Dad offered me a cigarette a short while later, telling me not to tell my mother. This was fifty years ago.
@Eyebeemania “Brian, go to the Stop & Go and get a pack of Mores and a pack of Camels. Tell them it’s for your parents.” And I did, and it worked. That was in 1975 or so…