subject: Queen Margrethe Of Denmark Wont Stop Smoking! [print this page] A few years ago there was a minor sensation due to the fact that there seemed to be a connection between the fact that Queen Margrethe of Denmark smokes cigarettes and the rise in deaths of women smokers five years after she took the throne.
The Queen took the view that people should be able to do as they wish and I cannot disagree with this as long as they know what they are doing( her husband no longer smokes) but, it raises the question; do famous, high ranking smokers in society act as negative role models?
The Danish queen is very popular. Is it possible her smoking habit encourages other women to smoke? Well, it may be so and while compulsive smoking has turned her teeth yellow, Danes do not hold her smoking against her. They often say of other heavy smokers that they "smoke like Queen Margrethe."
However, at least current quit smoking cessation information and education goes some way to letting smokers know what they are really doing. Is this enough though?
People find it hard enough working out how to stop smoking or even whether they should stop smoking without the mixed messages they receive. When you have such a high profile person who chain smokes yet gives all appearances of being healthy, it may destroy the hard work of the quit smoking cessation educators.
After all you may reason, it doesnt seem to do the queen any harm so why shouldnt I smoke??
Well, please remember that it is a GAMBLE, and it is a BIG gamble - like Russian Roulette.
Okay, so the queen of Denmark has been lucky (so far). That doesnt mean YOU will be so lucky!
In fact many famous smokers were not so lucky. People like Gracie Allen, Louis Armstrong and Desi Arnez all died from heart attacks or lung cancer. Humphrey Bogart died from cancer of the oesophagus.
Unfortunately, in those days people were told smoking was good for you. It was glamorous and expected. Doctors promoted it as health and relaxing although it defies logic that anyone would think smoke could be good for you!
However there is really no excuse now.
These days the research is in; statistically it is very likely a smoker will suffer from some sort of smoking related illness; either lung cancer, emphysema or heart disease.
Passive smoking means that your family and loved ones are also likely to suffer. Is that what you want?
I cannot help but wonder how Princess Mary feels about her Mother in Laws smoking and the example she sets for he grandchildren. Its my guess she doesnt like it but she can hardly say so!
