How did you get into drinking or smoking?

Not me but my doctor uncle he was like chainsmoker since college times and grandfather would always worry (imagine the irony) He gets married and boom his wife has him clean within months. I really admire that lady ❤️

I took a few sips on some occasions. Then I drank beer thrice. Once at a wedding (friends forced), second time behind school on new year (friends forced), third time another wedding (friends forced). Then I realised that these so-called friends are greedy and have no life goals. Their biggest ambition is to get a government job and take bribery. So I stopped giving them my time. Whenever they call, I say I am busy. But they are so greedy that they keep coming back as I usually don't mind paying the bills. So for me, these friends I have are worse than drinking or smoking. Also, I never got addicted to alcohol. It tastes awful. Smoking never tried nor I want to.

Just went to bar one day and started!

Non smoker, teetotaller here !!! Never ever had once in my life

drinking, well, had my first drink with my dad first so there was no "Taboo" associated with it. learnt it in my youth to enjoy it, now mostly I do single malts or negronis. Never was into cigarettes, but picked up cigars in my late 30s, and I enjoy a good cigar with close set of friends once a month. Have seen friends trying to give up when they over do it, the one thing that works for them is to replace tobacco/alcohol with something else. a close friend has replaced with runnning/gym. he claims that being able to run further has been the biggest motivation to give up smoking. everyone has different tool imo