My dad smoked - a legacy of national service where they were given a pack a day - and also an american allowance because he was stationed in Bavaria.
He became a school teacher and burnt 60 a day apparently (Burnt as he lit one in the stock room, then went to teach and came back to a stub) Thats the story anyway!
He did give up in the end though - in the 70's I think - but still said he could sometimes taste a fag and still wanted one 30 years later. Never did though - and used to tell the kids he was still addicted to them. He also knew where all the kids hanged out for a sneaky fag.