# Smoking REALLY old cigarttes. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553 "2004-05-11T01:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553/1 "2004-05-11T01:32:38Z")
While surfing Ebay, looking for collectables and whatnot, I found that there are people selling old packs of cigarettes. Such as this [this](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=44&item=3290902923&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW) pack of Bright. The smokes are still sealed in their original plastic. I remember Brights (they were actually quite good. Mint flavor, not menthol). And I believe they stopped making them about 1985 or so. So this pack has to be close to 20 years old. I haven’t smoked for many years now, but I remember that if _opened_ pack got old the grits would get icky. How good would a sealed pack be after 20 years? ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553/2 "2004-05-11T02:09:17Z")
Terrible. Trust me. I’ve found a sealed pack that was less than a year old, and they almost made me sick. Unless they’ve been vacuum sealed, I’d strongly recommend NOT smoking them. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553/3 "2004-05-11T03:10:17Z")
If the cigs are _really_ old, say pre-1965, then smoking them is actually _good_ for you. It’s true. They had doctors on TV saying so. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553/4 "2004-05-11T03:23:54Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > If the cigs are _really_ old, say pre-1965, then smoking them is actually _good_ for you. > > It’s true. They had doctors on TV saying so. [It’s the blend!](http://www.tvparty.com/g2c/toppercamel.ram) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553/5 "2004-05-11T04:01:19Z")
I saw a 20 year old pack of Soviet cigarettes for sale on eBay once. Now _that_ will grow some hair on your chest. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553/6 "2004-05-11T05:06:26Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Terrible. Trust me. > I’ve found a sealed pack that was less than a year old, and they almost made me sick. > Unless they’ve been vacuum sealed, I’d strongly recommend NOT smoking them. I’m not going to smoke anything. I’m just curious. By the way, how did the old pack make you sick? Did they taste really bad, or what?😕 One time I smoked an old pack of Terryington that I found in the glove compartment of a car. (this was about 1977). I’m guessing it was in there for about 2 years. It smelled/tasted like I had lit up a weber grill. Charcoal! I’m just wondering what 20 years would do…especial to the chemicals that are added!!! ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-really-old-cigarttes/244553/7 "2004-05-11T05:35:03Z")
Yes, they tasted awful. And they seemed strong and harsh…like something rich and woody. Every puff seemed to hit the gag reflex. I’m not sure why, but I do wish my first cigs had tasted that way, so I never smoked again. :smack: