Candy Cigarettes for sale in local stores: What are we teaching children?

Candy cigarettes photo by Pat Z Anthony
@PatZAnthony (14752)
Charlotte, North Carolina
June 23, 2017 12:37pm CST
Candy Cigarettes are for sale in some stores here. The photo included with this post was taken at a Big Lots store, but that is not the only store offering these. When considering candy cigarettes, we all know that many here struggled to quit smoking after realizing what a terrible idea it was to start in the first place. Some will say they started smoking or using other tobacco products as children. Why would be the advantage of allowing candy cigarettes to be used by children? Or, even adults! Not only are these pure sugar, which is never a healthy choice, but would giving candy cigarettes to children encourage them to smoke later? What do you think about candy cigarettes?
41 people like this
25 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Jun 17
Yes I smoked/ ate them as a child, began smoking at age 13 and quit at age 40, I only quit because I had no choice, smoke and on be in the vent after surgery, now I am glad I did quit
7 people like this
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
23 Jun 17
This is awful. A very bad thing for children. This may influence them to become smokers later on
5 people like this
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
26 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony thats true
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 Jun 17
Even if it does not influence someone to smoke, it is a horrible product to waste money on @Nawsheen
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
24 Jun 17
That's terrible! This world is sick and it wants to make everyone sick one way or another.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
26 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony It seems that these people have ignored their conscience to the point that it doesn't work anymore. They fail to realize that they will pay for their crimes against humanity sooner or later. They are fooling themselves if they think they are getting away with anything.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 Jun 17
That seems to be the truth @1hopefulman Some will sell anything and not worry about the consequences.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jun 17
I never really thought about them and did not know you could still buy them. We had them when I was a child though so thats 60 yrs plus. Yeah not a good idea at all really Pat.
5 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
24 Jun 17
Not something we would want to purchase @TiarasOceanView but we were really surprised to see these at all!
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36399)
• Toccoa, Georgia
24 Jun 17
Those are still around? I remember vaguely getting them on occasion when I trick or treated at Halloween. My Mom never bought them. I personally don't think it is a good idea to give to kids because it could make them want to smoke later on.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36399)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony I agree.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
It is a terrible idea to us too @LeaPea2417 Why would someone buy these.
2 people like this
@paigea (35635)
• Canada
23 Jun 17
I used to have these candies and I never smoked. My parents smoked and I hated it. I wonder if those exist around here.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
They are pure sugar @paigea It seems many with parents who smoked never picked up the habit.
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
@paigea Yes, and it seems most over the age of 40 had to live like that. Awful!
2 people like this
@paigea (35635)
• Canada
25 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony Growing up in a cloud of smoke was horrible!
3 people like this
@much2say (53921)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Jun 17
I do remember these from when I was a kid. A friend brought them to school and we all had a piece and pretended to smoke. But I would never really smoke . . . I had enough of my dad's smoking at home . . . I was fortunate that I found it disgusting and never picked up the habit myself . . . but I can't speak for everyone. Knowing that kids do like to "pretend" and think they are cool, I sure wouldn't buy these for my own kids. Encourage the good habits, not the bad!
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 Jun 17
We would not buy these for children either @much2say It seems like such a terrible idea, not cute, not healthy and why are they even on the market? Because someone is buying these horrible things.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53921)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony I guess these are a novelty from way back when. It was probably from a time before anyone ever thought smoking was unhealthy. But now we know better - so they really should stop making them. But of course it's all about money . . . as long as someone is willing to buy, they will keep making them .
@silvermist (19702)
• India
23 Jun 17
I never knew you could still get them.I had seen them as a child.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
25 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony Yes they are.But I do not think it is very popular here.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
@silvermist They are a terrible junk food, totally sugar. No benefit whatsoever for anyone.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
It seems they are on the market in certain areas @silvermist
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Jun 17
I didn't know they still make them, I had them as a kid I like them and I didn't grow up to be a smoker, never smoked at all.. It was a kid thing. Today I am not to sure time were different, I wouldn't buy them for a kid not too much sugar..the things we worry about now we didn't then.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
Maybe these are left from a few decades ago @CookieMonster46 Trying to find out more details!
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony keep us posted
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 Jun 17
I remember those being on the market way back in the 60's @PatZAnthony . I thought they quit making them. In today's world, not a good idea to bring them back.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
@nanette64 We were going to buy some today to see what they would taste like. When we learned they were made out of the country, we decided to forget about it.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
Maybe these are what is left from the 60s @nanette64
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
25 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony Now that wouldn't surprise me. LOL
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
23 Jun 17
Its candy, nothing more. My brother and I grew up across the street from a candy store and would get them alot. We never smoked. If people want to smoke, no matter what age, they will. Candy wont change that.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 Jun 17
It sends the wrong message to little ones (from what we see) @Courtlynn and would not be something we would ever purchase. Some parents might think these are harmless.
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
26 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony they are harmless. Parent or not. But agree to disagree.
@spaceseed (2843)
• India
24 Jun 17
my father has breath problems but he do not quit smoking.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
Some just can't seem to quit @spaceseed It is really sad the damage smoking can do.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
@spaceseed Do you have programs there with free medications to help him stop? Here there are some groups that give free assistance, nicotine gum and so on to help people stop.
1 person likes this
@spaceseed (2843)
• India
25 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony He already is suffering but addicted.
1 person likes this
24 Jun 17
I never see these in stores, maybe it's a regional thing
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 Jun 17
Someone probably has a warehouse filled with these and the market here was just the right place to put them up for sale @cavalierscholar
1 person likes this
26 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony that makes sense. I remember them from when I was a kid, but haven't seen them in decades.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
27 Jun 17
@cavalierscholar It seems we also have not seen these since we were children. Can't get an answer as to why these are for sale now.
• United States
23 Jun 17
Wow, it's 2017 and they still make these?! I remember the bubble gum ones that were covered in powdered sugar that you could blow out the tube to make "smoke" the gum wasn't very good though.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 Jun 17
They have the bubble gum ones in the same store @librarygeek1980
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (35062)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Bad idea.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
Agreed @popciclecold Wonder who would buy these for their children.
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
26 Jun 17
We had them when we were kids, back in the 60's...
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
2 Jul 17
And here they are again @dlr297
@smileyhema (4606)
• United States
24 Jun 17
This must be a bad idea.. kids will easily get carried away with these.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
This is a bad idea to me too @smileyhema No one really wants children to imitate smokers, do they?
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Wow I have not seen those in years around here, I think they would be considered very politically incorrect by anyone with any sense.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
1 Jul 17
I don't know what I should comment on this. Probably just a candy and nothing more. People get smarter and have common sense as they grow up. And if they smoke then it's their problem.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 17
They are nothing new - they were around when I was a child more than 70 years ago. Never did me any harm and certainly never made me want to smoke.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
2 Jul 17
They are such junk that we wonder why they are purchased by anyone, but they are here again @jaboUK Not sure if they would encourage smoking or not.
1 person likes this