How Many Cigarettes Do You Smoke? Ireland 1962

Reactions of smokers and non-smokers to a new report linking smoking with lung cancer.

Reports from the Royal College of Physicians in London and the Danish Cancer Association have pointed to the link between smoking and lung cancer. Opinions differ as to the impact of cigarette smoking on a person’s health among members of the public who spoke to RTÉ News.

One non-smoker comments,

"If you want to be fit and well, you have to keep off cigarettes...I think it weakens a man’s strength of character."

Smokers were in general agreement that cigarette smoking wasn’t of benefit to one’s health, but the findings of the report didn’t seem to motivate them enough to stop smoking completely,

"The doctors know their own business, but as far as I’d be concerned, the fella who’d smoke twenty or thirty a day might get a bit worried."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is seeking a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 March 1962.

[erenjaegerbomb]

"I'm not particularly worried about lung cancer because I don't currently have it"

[SuperDare]

What strikes me is how well/politely everyone speaks

[kengruz]

Every single respondent was well-spoken and courteous, no attitude given or offense taken.
The last gent- no doubt a poet, a drinker, or both.

[Pickchore]

“I’m a heavy smoker. I go through 2 lighters a day” - Bill Hicks.

[joaovitormatos]

For those of you surprised by how "avant-garde" this interview is: linking tobacco to cancer has been done since the 1890s. In the 50s and 60s, the tobacco industry started working together to stop information and spread disinformation about tobacco being safe, that's why knowing tobacco is a problem *sounds* new, but it really isn't

[dougl]

I started smoking in 1985. My first carton of cigarettes was given to me in college by camel cigarettes. They set up a booth on campus with the ploy of being career recruiting. I believe this was a regular tactic to get people addicted young. They gave away hundreds of cases to struggling college students. Several people in my dorms started smoking then.
I smoked till 2015. I can’t tell you how much wasted energy and money that nasty habit costed me. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done (quitting).
I feel so much better now.

[brianforbes]

Everyone tells you that smoking will kill you. What they don’t tell you is that it cures salmon 🍣

[maddyg]

I have always loved how the Irish people answer personal questions with "I do", "I do not", "I am", "I am not" etc rather than just "yes" or "no". Must have its roots in the Irish language.

[sullywinn]

The gentleman at 1:52 is a great example of street smarts. Very observant of the way cigarettes affected his peers' behavior and correctly deduced they weren't healthy.

[purefoldnz]

in Ireland in those days you had two hobbies available either be a drinker or a smoker.

[RockyRoader]

Mr Maher was a complete spaceman, I bet he was great craic to meet in a pub!

[FinalPattern]

The philosopher at the end and his drunk statement 😂

[martinslennon]

God bless you Mr. Maher, wherever you are, you put a big smile on my face!

[P-yu]

4:09 $50 says this guy had a nickname among the staff of every store/restaurant he went to

[argopunk]

The last gent is pissed out of his gourd. Love it!

[captainkielbasa]

I love how frank and honest these people are

[Gunzee]

It's bloody amazing how mature they all look. You'd never guess that girl was 17.
Mr Mhar/Marr with his expressions & thoughts reminds me of Jim from Taxi. What a good speaker.

[creativetrance]

I smoked for 4 years and quit now 10 years ago, but I can really respect the last guy. I would never dictate what people should do. It's really great if people know what they're doing though.

[hellaspatriot]

Out of everyone I thought the guy at 1:57 looked like the biggest smoker, turns out he was the only non smoker 😂

[rcordiner]

Everyone interviewed for this video was aged 17 and a half at the time of filming.