Smoking was popularly seen as quite fun as well. Less so now. It's role in culture shifted.
Drinking on the other hand DOES effect peoples mood, behaviour, confidence etc.
This is what always mystified me about smoking: at least other drugs have some effect, nicotine just gets you addicted.
Edit:
To be clear: smoking has no meaningful affect unless you're already addicted. A non smoker who tries their first cigarette is no more relaxed or confident or calm than they were before.
The same is not true for alcohol or marijuana or basically any other drug people use recreationally...
The only reason people are able to keep doing it is because they get used to it, and their body develop a dependency on it.
Sounds like beer.
I disagree. While a lot of people might not like the taste of their first beer, they tend to not have the same feelings about the effects of it.
E.g., the first time i tried mezcal, I was not really into the flavor of it, but I liked how it made me feel afterwards. Eventually I developed an appreciation for the flavor and started genuinely liking it (just like it happened with beer for a lot of people). But I liked the effects of it the first time around just like I liked them later on, all that's changed is flavor.
Had a similar experience in terms of flavor with some cheeses as well, it is just an acquired taste. And in case of cheeses (unlike with mezcal), there was no "feeling" that I liked the first time around, I just eventually started enjoying the flavor.
With cigarettes, the first time I tried it, there was not a single feeling I liked about it at all.
Heh, I can tell you've never smoked.
I'm not a smoker, but did try a cigar once. Combined with alcohol, it was an utterly euphoric experience. Think caffeine times ten, at least. I quite literally dreamed about smoking for a couple of days after that experience.
Does that effect persist for regular users? Nope. But for non-smokers it can be a very pleasurable experience.
This isn't true. I started smoking socially in the summer and nicotine absolutely gives you a head rush and relaxing feelings. It also suppresses my appetite quite a bit. I found if I just ate and I'm full and then smoke a cigarette it makes me want to throw up.
And on the topic of fun, it is a social thing and you meet all kinds of interesting people by smoking. It's such a great ice breaker at the bar to meet people.
I gave it up because it's winter and I don't go out to bars as much. Plus it's cold and I have no desire to go outside and smoke anyways. I'll definitely pick it up socially again next summer though, it was one of the best summers of my life.