Dealing with social pressures

It can be hard to stay quit when people are smoking or vaping around you.

Social pressures can be triggers that tempt you. When you see friends smoking or vaping, it’s natural to feel like having one, too. This can also happen if your family smoke or vape around you, or your work mates do during breaks.

There are ways to prepare for these situations.

It's useful to decide what you will say to your friends who smoke or vape. Let them know you’ve quit and ask them politely not to offer you any. You might need to avoid seeing some friends during the early days or weeks of quitting.

Understanding what triggers a craving to smoke can also be helpful. If you smoke while drinking alcohol, try to do something different at the pub. Maybe play a game of darts or snooker instead.

Quitline counsellors can help you with tips on how to cope with social pressures to smoke.