Remember the scene? Outside of Flatneck Station, Arthur Morgan is met by a traveling salesman called Phineas T. Ramsbottom. “I smoke 200 cigarettes a day,” he boasts before showing off his collection of cigarette cards, triggering a mission in the critically acclaimed blockbuster Red Dead Redemption II. Meanwhile, whilst secreted in a hidey-hole in northern Kabul, Venom Snake, the protagonist of Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain, smokes a phantom cigar to pass the time, allowing him to sneak out at night and complete his mission.

These are two great games and award-winning experiences that gamers still love today, both glorifying smoking. As gamers, we’ve often seen cutscenes where people smoke, building atmosphere and character but also normalizing a dying habit. From BioShock to Grand Theft Auto V, cigarettes and big gaming titles go hand in hand.

There are multiple reasons why gamers should not follow the lead of their gaming protagonists. It is a habit that is on the decrease, from around half of the US population smoking in the fifties to just 11% in 2023. There are many reasons the general population gives up, from health concerns to it slowly becoming socially unacceptable, but why should gamers consider quitting the habit?

How Smoking Impacts Video Gamers

Firstly, it should be noted that some sections of the gaming community are already aware of the impact of smoking. Just 3.7% of the eSports community smoke regularly, compared to 11% of the US population and 18.7% of the global population. Some gamers have wised up to the dangers already, but what are they?

Smoking is known to impact both their physical and cognitive abilities negatively. It diminishes lung capacity, leading to reduced stamina and endurance during extended gaming sessions – something a boss battle on Metal Gear Solid absolutely demands. Smoking can hinder performance in competitive games where quick reflexes and sustained focus are crucial, such as online competition or eSports. Also, smoking has detrimental effects on concentration, memory, and decision-making, which are essential cognitive functions in gaming.

Additionally, smoking can exacerbate the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, which poses health risks such as obesity and cardiovascular problems. Finally, reaching for a cigarette every half an hour breaks up the gaming session, interrupting your flow mid-mission. Gamers aiming to grab those platinum trophies on Red Dead might need to smoke in-game, but in real life, the cigarette should be stubbed out.

How Video Gamers Can Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is harder than beating a Dark Souls game, but it is possible with a little bit of help. The key is to find a smoking alternative that can deliver a hit of nicotine without the combustion of tobacco. Also, for gaming, it needs to be something that doesn’t take up your hands, like vaping, so your concentration is on the screen.

Nicotine pouches are a popular alternative, with brands such as ZYN and On! becoming well-known across the United States. They’re placed between the lip and gum to deliver a nicotine hit without having to light up. They’re also very flexible for different levels of smokers and come in different flavors. Do you like coffee? Well, coffee nicotine pouches come in flavors such as espresso and normal coffee and at strengths such as 8 mg for heavy smokers down to 2 mg for those who light up occasionally.

Gamers might also like to try lozenges or gum, both of which are other oral solutions to nicotine withdrawal. They’re placed in the mouth, with the gum being chewed just like normal gum, whilst lozenges are left to dissolve like a cough sweet. Both come in multiple flavors with popular nicotine lozenges, including strawberry, watermelon, and mint. Like pouches, they can also be bought in different strengths, and their usage won’t interrupt a gaming session.

One advantage a gamer has in the battle to stop smoking is a distraction. Whilst many smokers complain of having to break a habit, a good video game should keep you engrossed and focused for hours, meaning that satisfying the cravings with a smoking alternative should be enough to see you beat your habit, just like putting down Shao Kahn at the end of Mortal Kombat.