Most parents want to keep their kids from smoking. They generally try to use reason, threats and bribery. Unfortunately, these methods do not work as often as they would like.
My parents used a diabolically clever technique on my brother and myself which worked like magic and was effortless. They simply removed the usual kid’s incentive to want to smoke and let the sickening effects of the cigarettes, plus logic, do the rest.
One of the strongest motivations for smoking in our day was the thrill of doing something that was “taboo” plus rebelling against the parents authority. Therefore, when my brother, Hal, reached an age that he might be considering smoking my parents used a two-pronged approach.
First, they explained the known drawbacks of smoking, namely that it was a dirty nasty habit that stained your teeth brown, made you smell bad, diminished your athletic performance and was not too good for your health.
Then they said that they would not prohibit him from smoking. If he wanted to smoke he should come into the living room, choose one of the cigarette brands available and light up in front of everyone and enjoy a smoke.
Just to make a point they had Hal invite his friends to come in and watch him choose between Pal Malls, Camels or Old Gold and light up and smoke. Naturally, he made a big production of it. The point was clearly made that he had the choice of smoking if he wanted to.
After this demonstration everyone went their way. But the job was done; that may have been the last cigarette my brother ever smoked. The sickening effects of the cigarette, removal of all the thrills of rebellion and doing a forbidden thing and the rest of the drawbacks of smoking had done their job.
When I got old enough to smoke, all I needed was for my older brother to tell me it was a bad idea. I always listened to every word he said like it was the gospel. He eloquently pointed out all of the drawbacks and a sickening trial run on a cigarette convinced me that there was no advantage in smoking.
When my own kids came of age here in New Smyrna Beach, smoking was out, as in it wasn't cool. Only the “losers” did it according to my daughter, Betsy. She and her brother were never tempted.
In my age group, there are a lot of people with serious breathing problems. They pant all of the time and carry oxygen around with them. Every time I see one of these people I feel very thankful to my parents who were so clever at persuading my brother and me not to smoke.