The Top Moments Missed by Smokers for a Cigarette
Many UK smokers see themselves as “social smokers,” stepping outside now and then for a chat or some fresh air. But a new survey suggests these quick smoke breaks may be costing them more moments than they realise.
Key Takeaways
- Over 40% of smokers have missed key moments due to smoke breaks.
- Football goals are the most commonly missed moment.
- The start of a show and an important phone call are also commonly missed.
- 3% of respondents have missed the birth of a child when smoking.
- Smoke-free products like nicotine pouches allow users to stay present.
Moments Missed: Goals, Films, and Important Phone Calls
The Northerner team surveyed over 1650 smokers to find out which important life moments are missed when they pop outside for a cigarette.
Over 40% of smokers said that they have missed a big moment when stepping outside for a smoke break, so it comes as no surprise that 13% of Brits have set their New Year's Resolution to ‘smoke less’.
Nearly one in six respondents missed a goal being scored at a football match—making it the most common moment lost to a cigarette break.
Whether it’s a pub full of football fans or someone watching the match at home, plenty have returned from a cigarette break to find they’ve missed the big moment of the match.
12% said they missed the beginning of a show or film, and another 12% said they had missed an important phone call. 5% of people believe they missed out on a romantic encounter due to popping out for a smoke.
See the top 10 moments missed by Brits who popped out for a cigarette:
Who Misses Out Most?
Those aged 25-34 were the most likely to miss out on big moments:
- Over a fifth (23%) have missed a goal
- Almost one in ten (9%) have missed out on Christmas morning
- A startling 6% have even missed a flight.
In comparison, just 7% of over-55s could recall missing a goal while on a smoke break, and just 1% had ever missed a flight because of it.
Missing the Biggest Moment of All
A small but striking share of respondents admitted that their smoking habits have had a major personal impact, with 3% saying they have missed the birth of a child because they were outside smoking at the time!
Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs at Northerner, said:
“This data shows that smoking can mean missing out on life in more ways than one. It’s a reminder of how habits can affect our social lives as well as our health.
It’s encouraging to see so many Brits setting their New Year’s Resolution to smoke less, perhaps to regain some of these moments in their life. The findings show that while a quick cigarette might feel like a short break, it can often mean missing out on memories, moments and milestones that can’t be repeated.
Smokers who switch to alternatives like nicotine pouches can stay part of the action instead of standing outside.”
Smoke-Free: The Best Way to Never Miss the Party
Smoke-free options like tobacco-free nicotine pouches mean there’s no need to step outside or miss the best bits of life.
They can be a more convenient way to stay present with friends, enjoy the moment, and skip the constant back-and-forth of smoke breaks.
