THE DALE BLUES — COMMENT & CULTURE
By Sammy Friel
THE SMOKE STILL RISES: TOBACCO, TRADITION & THE LONG ROAD TO QUITTING
Few subjects in modern life flare up debate quite like smoking. For some, tobacco in its various forms carries deep cultural resonance — the ritual of rolling one’s own, the snap of a lighter before a stolen moment outside a pub, or the long-romanticised image of old cinema stars with cigarettes glowing like beacons of cool. For others, it represents one of the most preventable threats to health ever normalised by society. And in truth, the story of smoking has always been a tension between history, appeal, and undeniable risk.
A HISTORY WRAPPED IN PAPER
Tobacco’s journey from the Americas to Europe reshaped global habits. What began as a ceremonial or medicinal plant exploded into an industry that helped build empires. Pipes, cigars, snuff, hand-rolled cigarettes — each had their era, each found its devotees. In mining towns, at football terraces, on factory floors, the cigarette became a symbol of camaraderie and escape.
Companies grew vast on this appetite. Philip Morris International, the powerhouse behind brands such as Marlboro, engineered not only a product but a lifestyle — rugged, aspirational, unmistakably modern. Meanwhile, on this side of the Irish Sea, the famous Gallagher brothers of Belfast, through Gallaher Ltd., etched their own legacy with brands like Senior Service, woven deeply into working-class culture for generations. The branding was bold, the marketing unforgettable, and for a long time the dangers were either unknown or politely ignored.
THE APPEAL THAT ENDURES
To pretend smoking’s appeal has vanished would be untrue. Even today, many describe it as a stress release, a grounding ritual, a way to punctuate the day. Its aesthetic lure — especially among the young — persists, despite decades of health campaigns.
But the numbers are stark: smoking remains one of the leading causes of premature death, reducing life expectancy by years and damaging nearly every organ it touches. The contradiction is clear — a habit rich in heritage but equally rich in risk.
MODERN ALTERNATIVES & THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE
As society confronts the health consequences, the landscape has shifted. Vaping, heat-not-burn products, nicotine pouches, and herbal alternatives have swept in, each carrying their own debates regarding safety and addiction. Even tobacco giants like Philip Morris now publicly tout a “smoke-free future,” investing heavily in alternatives that might preserve the customer while abandoning the cigarette.
Do these options help? For some, yes — alternatives can reduce harm or act as stepping stones away from smoking. But they also spark new questions, new regulations, and new controversies.
THE HARD BIT: QUITTING
Ask anyone who has ever tried: quitting is rarely a straight line. Some succeed cold turkey, others rely on nicotine replacement therapies — patches, sprays, gums. Increasingly, hypnotherapy has gained traction as a legitimate tool for some individuals, reframing the subconscious associations that keep the habit alive.
Behavioural coaching, structured support groups, and GP-led cessation programmes round out the field. There’s no universal solution — only the one that works for the individual.
A CULTURE IN TRANSITION
Smoking once defined eras, shaped adverts, funded football clubs, and became part of the social fabric. Now, it stands at a crossroads: still culturally recognisable, still seductive to some, but increasingly incompatible with modern expectations for health and longevity.
Whether tobacco’s long, smoky reign is ending or simply evolving is yet to be seen. But one thing is certain: as the landscape changes, the conversation — like a slow, rising plume — is far from finished.
— Sammy Friel, The Dale Blues