Health and comfort issues may cause the relationship between a smoker and nonsmoker to burn out quickly. The key to maintaining a relationship with a smoker is finding a middle ground.


Nonsmokers should inform smokers of boundaries that are tolerable when smoking. If a smoker does not know the limits at the beginning of the relationship, the nonsmoker will likely be unhappy.
Aaron Anderson, a senior economics major at USI, is allergic to smoke. He said he would never start smoking because it is a bad habit to get rid of.
“I think smoking is disgusting,” Anderson said. “I would never date someone who smokes. It’s unattractive.”
In most cases, smokers try to respect others in Anderson’s situation by performing their habit elsewhere.
Designated areas should be negotiated for the smoker to be able to smoke freely and other areas should be chosen for the nonsmoker.
For nonsmokers, negotiation may be difficult because even though smoking and nonsmoking areas are designated, the smell of cigarette smoke lingers.
If this becomes too big of a problem to handle, drive a smoke free car and do not allow the smoker to smoke in or near your home.
“I would walk away and not smoke around them. I respect their wishes,” Amber Gosch, a senior communications major, said about dating a nonsmoker.
She has been a smoker for four years.
Smoking leaves a bad smell, but it may also leave the smoker with bad breath. Nonsmokers do not exactly enjoy kissing a mouth full of tobacco.
Smokers, be courteous of your significant other and pop a mint in your mouth or a piece of gum.
Gosch has never been asked to put her cigarette out or leave an area because of smoking, but if that were to happen, she said she would be respectful to her boyfriend and put it out.