I came across an old classic Humphrey Bogart movie the other night while perusing the channel guide (my wife says scrolling through the guide is my favourite channel).  Anyway I stopped and watched the movie and noticed how much smoking was  going on.   75 years ago smoking was cheap and socially acceptable.  I hadn’t realized that in Canada in 1950 69% of men and 38% of women smoked.  Wow.  Cars had ashtrays and were sure put to use.  Remember when people said, “If it ever gets to $2 a pack I’m going to quit”?   Then it was $4, $5 and so on.  By 1965 about half of Canadians smoked, by 2003 around a quarter had the habit and by 2022 it was down to 12%.  Most smokers understand smoking could shorten their life.  A British study shows that for smokers who do not quit, each cigarette smoked knocks about 20 minutes off their life.   There’s another wow.    The good news is new research shows that for those who quit smoking before 40 can live just as long as people who’ve never smoked.  And smokers who quit at any age can come close to the survival rate of those who’ve never smoked within 10 years.  My mind flashes back to my early days as a radio dj when the master control room had big ashtrays, and I remember I really didn’t like the smell of stale cigarette smoke.  In 2007 Canada banned smoking in federally regulated workplaces and broadcasting being such, that was the end of smoking in our building.  I honestly can’t even think of an employee here who smokes anymore.  Times have sure changed. 

That’s Coffeetalk.  I’m Vic Dubois.