KUWAIT: 'Old habits die hard' goes an often-heard idiomatic expression. This especially holds true for smokers who have tirelessly strived to kick the habit. However, they can use the opportunity presented by the Holy Month of Ramadan to cut back on the addiction. By observing fasts, which includes abstaining from smoking the entire day, smokers can be encouraged to carry on with this practice for the remaining months of the year.

According to the fourth annual Yahoo Maktoob Research Ramadan survey, only 16 percent of smokers plan to give up smoking entirely throughout Ramadan. A quarter of respondents who took part in the survey are regular smokers and the challenge to abstain for the month continues to remain extremely high. Attempting to quit can be frustrating and difficult, however Ramadan is often viewed as an ideal time of the year to attempt to break this habit.

Shireef, a 26-year-old Egyptian took a resolution this year to quit smoking, although it wasn't easy, "I decided to quit smoking in the beginning of Ramadan, and eat more sweets instead. I used to begin Iftar with a cigarette, now I start by having a soup. I tried to do this during the first three days, and it felt more difficult by the day. The problem is that my dad is a smoker, so it tempts me into smoking. Now I can't eat well. I have no appetite, I feel the need for a cigarette more than food," he told the Kuwait Times.

I try to quit smoking every year during the holy month. I begin smoking again (after Ramadan). This year I didn't follow the habit because I am depressed after going through a stressful time in my life; I just got divorced. In fact I don't smoke much. I only smoke about five or six cigarettes per day," said Abbas, a 28-year- old Kuwaiti.

There are others that have no plans to quit smoking, "I'm not a heavy smoker and I smoke less than half a packet a day. I only refrain from smoking during the day in Ramadan for religious reasons. This doesn't make a great difference to me when compared to other days. Normally, I begin smoking during the afternoon, and I rarely smoke in the morning," said Homoud, a 33- year- old Kuwaiti.

I quit smoking last week. It is a coincidence and is not related to Ramadan. I don't fast, but I recently landed a job. Smoking is not allowed in the office. So this was a good opportunity to quit. It's annoying to walk out of the building to smoke in the hot weather. So this really helped me," noted Liza, a 22-year- old American. - Kuwait Times