[leoedin]

My parents taught me to stay away from smoking and drugs. It didn't really work. The facade collapsed when I realised that actually a lot of people use all sorts of drugs recreationally with very limited adverse effect. And that they can be extremely, life alteringly fun in a way no prohibition lecture captures.

Obviously there's plenty of downsides too - but the idea that a stern lecture or twenty will stop kids taking drugs is kind of laughable.

[koonsolo]

I don't lecture my kids. What I do is probably not acceptable by many, but hey, it works.

When we go to hospitals, and those cancer patients are outside smoking, I point out "see, these are the smokers". Every opportunity when marginaal people are smoking, I point out how stupid and marginaal they look. My kids are disgusted by it, the same way I was.

So it's not a "you are not allowed to smoke" or "smoke is bad for you", it's a "you want to be a loser who thinks he's cool? Go ahead and smoke"