According to studies done, 50% of “light” cigarette smokers are less likely to quit. They have been led by the myth that light cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes thus giving them a false sense of security.

Although they are hoping that they are able to reduce health risk by smoking “light” cigarettes, these “light” cigarette smokers are in fact doing themselves a big disfavour. They continue smoking, thinking their health risks have been reduced and at the same time, they are also reducing their chance of quitting completely as they get older.

The studies have also shown that most light cigarette smokers are female. For those smokers of light cigarettes, 54% were less likely to quit successfully compared to those who have never smoked light cigarettes. For more facts on light cigarettes you can check out this webpage from the US National Cancer Institute.

I have personally tried to switch from regular to light cigarettes and I can tell you, it didn’t help! I was trying to wean off by smoking lesser and “lighter” but I ended up smoking more, drawing heavier on my “lights” to get the kick that I would have gotten from smoking regular cigarettes. I personally have a preference for clove cigarettes from Indonesia called Kretek during my smoking days. I will be putting up a separate post on that, keep a lookout for it.

If you ask me if light cigarette smokers are less likely to quit, I would say it’s all in the mind and up to the individual. What you have been told and what you perceive. I can only tell you that it made me smoke more during my smoking days when I switched from regular to light.