Smirting

The obvious reason for people going to pubs apart from having a drink and lighting up a cigarette, which could be easily done elsewhere, is mainly to chat with other people.

Since the introduction of the smoking ban in Ireland in January 2004, the social habits of the smoking community have changed. Instead of spending time in smoky, crowded bars people find themselves having a conversation over a quick fag.

The new phenomenon has been called smirting which is the combination of smoking and flirting. Practitioners of smirting gather in all sort of outdoor venues. The only difference is that they tend to have a more relaxed attitude towards meeting other people. Short breaks outside became ways of speed dating. So why is it different to a ‘conventional chat’ in a pub?
First of all timing is crucial because a quick cigarette outside gives you courage and makes you speed up the conversation. You don’t have to waste half an hour trying to make eye contact, while drinking pints in an old man’s pub. Secondly, every cigarette break brings a fresh opportunity, which last as long as a fag. It is also fairly easy to initiate the conversations simply by asking for a light.

The Observer reports that: “Many young Dubliners admit that they have increased their consumption of cigarettes because of the social benefits. Now you just pop out for a quick cigarette, meet some quality people and have a laugh.”

We will see in the next few months whether the nation smokers are going to benefit of a better social life once the ban will be implemented here in July.