The love lives of single smokers are set to be given a boost when the blanket ban comes into force later this year – thanks to the new art of “smirting”.
Smirting – a combination of flirting and smoking – has become a massive hit in Jersey since the ban was introduced earlier this year as people congregate outside pubs and clubs together.
Smokers who had previously puffed away inside their favourite haunts are now timing their cigarettes by who has just walked outside to light up.
The trend started in Dublin, one of the first cities in the world to introduce the indoor smoking ban.
According to a local guide for the city smirting is “a great way to meet people”.
It even goes on to suggest it may even be worth taking up smoking for, adding: “A mixed blessing then. If you’re a non-smoker you can smell your food again; if you’re a smoker it’s a new way to socialise.”
Some Dubliners have admitted the ban may have even increased their daily intake of cigarettes because of the new smoking benefits.
But the smirting phenomenon has worried anti-smoking bodies who believed the ban would encourage smokers to light up less. Bob Wareing-Jones, Jersey’s tobacco controller, said: “I laughed when I first came across it but when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense.
“I am seeing that there is a new social scene growing among those who smoke. It seems that guys are now seeing smoking as a great opportunity to chat up a girl.
“The good news is that we haven’t any evidence at the moment of people actually smoking more because they want to meet someone of the opposite sex, but smirting is definitely alive and well in Jersey. For some reason people going outside to smoke a cigarette seem to lose their shyness.”
4 Comments
It won’t be long before arson is taken up by bored housewives just so they can chat up the firemen…
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I hope the smirting passes over to use who train spot. I know we have a reputation of smelling of urine and scampi fries, which is out of order as I have never eaten scampi fries but if the ladies (or men you never know) fancy a puff of a ciggie outside the waiting room maybe they can smirt with me. Fingers crossed
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“”But the smirting phenomenon has worried anti-smoking bodies who believed the ban would encourage smokers to light up less.”" surely this should read more ?
Oh for gods sake, will the nimbys and do-gooders please find their way to the nearest exit and get off the country. Leave the rest of us alone to think for ourselves as we used to be able to do and live our lives in peace without being politically correct and having interfereing busybodies poking their noses.
So whats next? No smoking in cars because it increases road accidents? How about we ban school run mothers, because we know how disruptive kids can be in cars, and while were at it lets stop talking to passengers as conversation is distracting.
Furthermore if the do-gooders want to meddle lets have fewer road signs as its now getting stupid trying to watch the road and take note of the evergrowing signs that adorn our byways and highways.
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It’s a phenomenon I am enjoying right now as we have a non-smoking policy already I have a drink with my mates at the bar whilst I can nip out and chat to their wives and girlfriends who tend to stay outside to enjoy their cigarettes and drinks.
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