Canadian Personal Finance Blog

Stats Canada put out an interesting study that seems to support the claim that bans on smoking in the workplace and public places (as well as banning it in homes), has had a positive effect on folks quitting smoking, which I think is great (as a reformed smoker).

Smoking bans: Influence on smoking prevalence and it has a very good synopsis of the findings:

Since 2000, Canadians smokers have faced a growing number of restrictions on where they can smoke. Bans at home and at work were associated with a reduced likelihood of being in the initial “stages of change,” and an increased likelihood of being in the latter stages. Smokers who reported newly smoke-free homes or workplaces were more likely to quit over the next two years, compared with those who did not encounter such restrictions at home or at work.

My dislike of smoking is not purely a health issue it is also a financial issue. How can folks afford the $10-$15 a day for their smokes, when I get all flustered spending my $1.59 for my Tim’s coffee? I realize this is a physical addiction, but the way I ended up really quitting was realizing just how much of my money was going up in smoke (no not the Cheech and Chong movie).

Will my kids smoke? Certainly hope not, and I most certainly will not subsidize it either. Will I smoke again? I don’t think so.