Just wondering...they have long disappeared off the shelves in Tobacconists in the UK and Spain. Something which, to me, indicated relatively wealthy populations since the mid 70's...because: a. The people could afford to buy 20's as they became more affluent..and b. because the cigarette manufacturers might have come to the same conclusion as I have, since I changed to making my own, and then finding it much easier to quit, simply because it was not a case of reaching into a packet and lighting a cigarette without even thinking about it. The ease of buying cigarettes, and the fact that one always had one handy, encouraged many people to increase their smoking without realising it. So...I am wondering if, with all the financial hardship that is here, or just around the corner for some, we will see the return of smaller, and therefore easier to afford, cigarette packets on the shelves in the near future? An alternative to the 'Kingsize' which seems to be the only size available might also make a comeback, because the oldtime 'normal' length cigarettes were relatively cheaper too because of a lesser amount of tobacco in them
[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 04-19-2012).]
I don't smoke, but i know in the old days my first wife smoked weird stuff ( like cloves ), and they always came in odd sized ( and expensive ) packs. I bet they still do.
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06:38 PM
IMSA GT Member
Posts: 10640 From: California Registered: Aug 2007
I'm always in cigar shops and the standard pack of smokes contains 20 cigarettes. The smaller ones that contain 6 are usually the smaller cigars such as Black and Mild or Swisher Sweets or some other flavored cigar. I don't think they sell a typical cigarette in 6 packs.
Oh yes!! I was allowed to smoke in school breaks, because they were HERBAL cigarettes, and supposedly a medicinal 'aid' to combatting my bronchitis They were only available from Chemists then, though And they DID NOT HELP IN THE SLIGHTEST
I'm always in cigar shops and the standard pack of smokes contains 20 cigarettes. The smaller ones that contain 6 are usually the smaller cigars such as Black and Mild or Swisher Sweets or some other flavored cigar. I don't think they sell a typical cigarette in 6 packs.
Ah!! The difference in packing between the USA and UK The packs of five in the UK were a line of 5 cigarettes side by side; I hazard a guess that American 6 packs were two lines of three?
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06:44 PM
gtjoe Member
Posts: 385 From: burgaw nc usa Registered: Feb 2012
Ive never seen packs of 5 or 10 cigarettes but we do have cigarettes shorter than kings here that they call 72s
I guess you are quite young? As I mentioned, they seemed to disappear off our shelves in the late 60's and early 70's perhaps before you were of an age to even think about smoking?
[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 04-19-2012).]
The smallest pack I've ever seen is an 18 pack of Davidoff's.
Smaller packs wouldn't be more affordable.. they'd just have to run up to the store that many more times. Most smokers I know buy CARTONS when they are saving money.
Yes, they were once sold in the US, but not for decades now. They were sort of a rarity even way back when, and IMO, their target consumer was underage smokers--schoolkids. The only other place I ever saw them after my childhood, was in C-rations in Vietnam--mostly Lucky Strikes or Kools.
I guess you are quite young? As I mentioned, they seemed to disappear off our shelves in the late 60's and early 70's perhaps before you were of an age to even think about smoking?
Im not sure if 36 qualifies as quite young but no I dont remember much from the 70s
I guess you are quite young? As I mentioned, they seemed to disappear off our shelves in the late 60's and early 70's perhaps before you were of an age to even think about smoking?
Mid 60s was about the last time I saw any for sale Nick, and they weren't everywhere or common even then. My father hired a helper in his auto shop in the late 60s, and he smoked Camel non filters, and he would run up to the nearest little store--what we called a "drive-in" back then, (even tho you walked in a big roll-up door) but it was actually just a sleazy little place to buy beer and cigs, and he bring back 2-3 of the little packs. I know several of my schoolmates a couple of grades ahead of me would stop in there and buy a pack on the way to school, and stash them in their lunch box as we all walked to school. I left for the Marines in '69 and when I came back, the only little packs of "cigs" were candy cigs. My how times have changed. Back then, they used to keep all the cigarettes right out on the store shelves in the cigarette aisle and discount packs right on the counter--no more.
I last saw a little pack of cigs in 1973 in Cuba when I was stationed there, in C rats, and of course in '70-71 in Vietnam.
Years ago, (decades) I had a short relationship with a Welsh woman here in the states, and she smoke some sort of oval shaped British cig that her sister would send her from Cardiff.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 04-19-2012).]
You can still get a loosey at certain gas stations.
I know you can buy one at a time at some of the small quicky marts.
When I worked in a military exchange in the 60's, a 20 pack of non-filtered was 10¢ while packs of filtered were 11¢ each . Packs were a quarter in most machines then.
[This message has been edited by spark1 (edited 04-19-2012).]
As rayb & maryjane said a long long time ago. Back in the late '60 my grandfather would send me to the local store (with a note, what a joke) to pick up his smokes. He always told me to get the packs of 20's not the short packs he called them. As far as the count in the "Short Pack" I don't know. I also saw the "short packs" in "C" rations my first few years in the Navy as a FMF Corpsnam. That is until "smoking" went out of style in the service due to health concerns. Again I don't smoke so I don't know the count. I just exchanged then with someone who did for the candy bar or gum.
Ah the good old days! Don't miss smelling or inhailing other folks smoke at all!
Edit: Can't spell or type! ------------------ 1986 Red s/e 2m6 5-sp, & 2006 Red Solstice 5-sp
[This message has been edited by stumpkin (edited 04-19-2012).]
As rayb & maryjane said a long long time ago. Back in the late '60 my grandfather would send me to the local store (with a note, what a joke) to pick up his smokes.
I see your story and raise you mine:
I purchased cigarettes for my mom until I was 14 years of age.. started at about 6, as soon as I was able to say "Winston Light 100s"and count my change back from a dollar (yes, a dollar) I was able to get cigarettes at any gas station in my hometown. How does that grab some of you guys, a 6 year old buying cigarettes in the early 80s? When I think back on it now, it seems impossible, but even 30 years ago, a child could purchase a pack of smokes in my home town if the clerks knew who your mom was.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-20-2012).]
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12:41 AM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
I don't smoke, but i know in the old days my first wife smoked weird stuff ( like cloves ), and they always came in odd sized ( and expensive ) packs. I bet they still do.
My cig of choice. I really liked the smell and flavor of cloves. At one time you could buy them in a 20 pack like normal cigarettes or a 10 pack. Currently they are sold in a pack of 12.
I doubt we will see 5 or 10 cigarette packs. The biggest reason I see for this is state imposed taxes. In the case of California, it's a tax per pack, not per cigarette. So say the tax is $1.25 a pack, a 5 pack or a 10 pack would each have $1.25 in tax. I think that would discourage the purchase of smaller packs. The cost difference after taxes are applied, probably would be minimal. I mean if you spend $4.00 for a 10 pack or $5.50 for a 20, I wouldn't think 10 packs would be a high seller.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 04-20-2012).]
They were only available from Chemists then, though 
