Doctor issues severe warning for 'social smokers' who only have cigarettes on weekends

Being a social smoker is seen as a common occurrence for ‘non-smokers’ who only dabble in the act after a few drinks.

If the sun is shining, and you’ve got a plastic cup of Pimm's in your hand (with the fruit in it because you’re posh), you’re more than likely to crave something else: a cigarette.

Perfectly paired with alcohol, coffee, good weather and happy tunes, cigarettes are a lifestyle choice.

However, according to science, your body doesn’t care if you’re only smoking when you get together with your mates, or when the vibe calls for a Vogue.

A 2024 study found that around one in every eight people smoke in the UK, which is about 11 per cent, with around half of those people aiming to quit.

One third of smokers consider themselves to be social smokers (Getty Stock Images)

However, another study in 2024 found over a third of adults who currently smoke or quit in the 12 months before the poll, identified as a social smoker.

But whether you smoke each day or once every now and then, the damage is being done, says Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor.

She recently told Metro that ‘the body does not distinguish between a daily smoker and someone who smokes intermittently’ because of the toxins it introduces to the body remain the same.

She explained: “Each exposure to tobacco smoke delivers nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar and a wide range of toxic chemicals that have immediate and cumulative effects.

"Research has shown that the cardiovascular system reacts almost immediately to tobacco smoke - even one cigarette."

Even low-level smokers are at risk of health complications (Getty Stock Images)

She went on to say that smoking provides an ‘immediate effect’ of things like a ‘rise in heart rate and blood pressure, constriction of blood vessels, and a temporary reduction in oxygen delivery due to carbon monoxide exposure.’

This contributes to an increased risk in having a heart attack or stroke, as well as the risk of cancers of the lung, mouth, throat and oesophagus.

But when you pair smoking with alcohol, Dr Wylie says the impact is greater because of the carcinogenic properties of each product.

She said that ‘even very low levels of exposure, for example one cigarette in a day, or even smoking occasionally such as a few cigarettes over a weekend,’ can negatively impact your health.

The doc concluded: “Ultimately, while the pattern of use may be different, the harm is not negligible, and it is important for patients to understand that 'only socially' does not equate to safe.”