I hate it when people think that smoking is "who they are" instead of it just being something they do..

Well I'd rather have her be honest about smoking and not desiring to quit, instead of her insisting something rubbish such as she "only smokes occasionally" or that she's "trying to quit" (and then would get hammered by the press whenever they see her smoking), etc. Quitting a habit like that is not something to be taken lightly at all! I'm not defending her smoking, not at all, but a masked or half-assed attempt at quitting never works.

I appreciate her honesty. My dad died of lung cancer and I quit smoking about a year ago. And I'll be honest - I STILL miss it. It's such a gross habit but I LIKED smoking. Didn't smoke around the kids or in the house or any of that but I LIKED it. Yes, I feel better now but I still miss it.

Well, like it or not, smoking isn't illegal and to raise a pack of cigarettes to $30 a piece is crazy. I agree that smoking around children is moronic and abuse....so is alcohol and a whole list of other things. People have the right to choose what they want to do with their lives. To "hate" someone because they smoke is a very jaded way to think of things.

At least she is honest, something most 'celebs' are never. She knows the consequences at least she is not sniffing coke anymore.

Riviera, I'm from Europe, and while I agree completly about what you said about smoking, it is not true that we have cigarette vending machines here. SOME countries had those back in the 90ies, that's correct. You're not allowed to smoke in public places in Europe, including restaurants, bars, community buildings, offices, etc. Plus, here we have pictures of smoker lungs and other disgusting photos with texts like smoking kills your unborn child, smoking kills, etc on every single cigarette box. I really had the urge to put that right because honestly, I read this so often "in Europe everyone's a nudist, in Europe people swim naked, in Europe they do this and that" it's just not true and I don't know why Americans have so much prejudices about life here. And Europe is a contitent with many, many individual countries, it's not like the states in the US, every country here is extremly different, and you can't say "in Europe they do this" Just wanted to say this :)

As an ex smoker, I completely understand how difficult it is to kick the nasty habit. I smoked from age 21 to 32 until I was finally able to kick the habit. Its been six months but I tried to quit at least 10 times in the past. What I dont understand is why Kate needs smoking "to be herself." That is a completely lame comment which doesnt even make sense. I would understand it more if she said that the nictotine addiction is hard to kick ect ect. I guess the difference for me is that the whole time I was smoking I knew it was bad and I always desired to quit.

Good for her doing what she wants. The worst non-smokers are ex-smokers. I don't condemn anyone who wants to smoke or not smoke. It's entirely up to them if they want to inhale poison. Ernestine, you will find cigarette vending machines on streets in Germany for example. You need to be 18 and have a debit or credit card that verifies your age. Here in the UK 77% on the price of a pack of cigarettes is tax. This tax does not necessarily go to the National Health Service, who would deal with smoking related illnesses. We have a smoking ban since last year in all public places, pubs, bars and restaurants. I agree with the public places but in restaurants, pubs and bars they could have made it law that you have to have a smoking and non-smoking section. With air filters etc. this could have easily worked. What angers me is that the government took away our choice. They start with smoking, what next? If our government was so concerned with our health they would have put a total tobacco ban in place. But I guess the 77% tax income from tobacco is just too great... I call this hypocrisy!

I feel anyone old enough should have the right to smoke - in their own home, in their own car, on their own property. People may feel that "smoking bans" may take away the rights, but what about the rights of others? If smoking is allowed in a restaurant I will literally *not* be able to eat there. I need to wear a mask to most public places because of my horrible smoke allergies. I went to college at a school with a non-smoking college campus. I felt alright to walk around mask-free there. A visitor was smoking outside the student union one day and I collapsed and began coughing and had to be taken away by an ambulance, and by the time it came I was coughing so hard blood was coming up.

I don't want smoking to be banned. People should have the right to make that choice themselves, but in public places the smoke effects every person around you. And I have never once met a person polite enough to ask the people around them "Do you mind if I smoke?" people just light up without thinking of those around them. At places like playgrounds, public pools, and entry ways (Where people have no choice but to pass). The reason these bans are needed? Humans are selfish, and have no courtesy.