Newspapers reported rapidly dwindling stocks of cigarettes, tobacco and matches in Isle of Wight tobacconists on 9th August 1940.
This was a serious problem because, at that time, over half the population – including two-thirds of men – smoked.
Desperate nicotine addicts – on finding that their local shop had exhausted their tobacco supply – in some cases abused the tobacconist, forcing the outlet to shut its doors.
The reason given for the severe shortage of gaspers was a loss of staff at cigarette factories due to their workers having joined the armed services.
Blame for the lack of tobacco products in Island shops was placed on ‘hoarders’ buying up all available supplies. Selfish and unpatriotic citizens were said to have been ‘shop crawling’ to purchase all tobacco products available on the shelves.
Soldiers in local barracks such as Parkhurst were also held responsible for purchasing their supplies in Isle of Wight shops rather than from army canteens.
The Ministry of Supply advised smokers to cut down on their consumption by attempting to make 10 cigarettes last the same time it would normally take them to puff their way through 15.
I am amazed that the F word can be used in 2023 without offending people who have pride.
Most of those of us with pride would probably consider the potentially offensive interpretation of the F word a vulgar Americanism! Lol
Glad you wrote that because I thought he meant fuc……
As an American, I was taken aback by the use of the word fags in the headline. But I assume it’s still in regular use as a word for cigarettes even in this day and age. Is it? When speaking, I’m all for using shorter words for stuff whenever possible, but over here we just say cigs. Although in a headline in the US the word cigarettes would definitely be used. I was wondering if whomever wrote the headline today used “fags” to give him/herself a laugh, or if it is still used so nonchalantly by the general public in Britain.
“Fags” is still in common usage for cigarettes in the UK. The US meaning would fall on deaf ears over here. The other usage of the word “fag” in the UK is for a young boy who acts as a personal servant for an older boy at public schools.
Interesting! Thanks for that bit of education
‘Fag’ is simply the most commonly-used colloquial term for a cigarette in the UK. I’m aware of the US usage but did not consider this when writing the headline. I can understand it may look ‘odd’ to a US reader. But then again, I’d imagine nearly everyone reading Island Echo is based in the UK.
Pride is offensive to way more people than the other way around, we are all sick of being unable to live freely without this weirdo governing body of nobodys policing our culture and speech. Couldn’t care less if your gay, good luck with it we don’t want to know, kids are sick of it and its crazy dogma, they are not as stupid as the ones supporting it, the alphabet is coming apart.at last, mainly thanks to the ‘T’s……
I find it amazing that reading a story about smoking led to a conversation about sexuality and words people now find offensive. It shows you just how pathetic the general public is at finding things that upset them.
If the Island run out of Vape, nearly all the Island would be in trouble.
Everyone seems to Vape on the Island.
I find the sudden resurgence of the derogatory word ‘queer’ highly offensive. But that doesn’t matter because the go woke go broke brigade call you all sorts of names if you oppose them. What next to come back into common parlance, the N word?
If you say your feelin’ a bit queer on the island it means your not feeling very well..
Not anymore – a little queer now means a gay midget.
I’ve often felt a little queer but that is my business and no concern of you judgemental bigots.
Not judgemental at all, just sick to death of being force fed this stuff. Who cares get on with your life.If it’s no concern of everyone else then why are we forced to have this shoved in our faces everywhere.
If you don’t care, don’t pass comment on people who just want to get on with celebrating life and freedom. No one is shoving anything in your face. You are just a bigot.
If only you knew. Not every LGBT person supports this crap continually being forced on everyone on pain of being called a bigot or homophobe or losing their reputation or livelihood.
There’s plenty of LGBT people that are just as sick and tired of this alphabet mafia as everyone else. This continuous barrage of LGBT terrorism is pushing general acceptance backwards not forwards.
This is simply not true. You are evidently a stupid liar.
You speak for all the alphabet people do you Jimmy?
Looking at your comment you are evidently a child or just plain stupid.
Bloody well said Sheila
If you find a word offensive you aren’t forced to use it? The idea is that the LGBTQ+ community has reclaimed the word in a positive manner as opposed to the derogatory use of it historically, the same way that the black community have reclaimed the N word. If it feels wrong to use, don’t use it- simple!
Look at the state of the comments lol. You all need to find jobs