Disappearing cigarettes

[LunarOne]

Slightly misleading title, but I'm not really sure where to put this.

I care for my terminally ill, housebound 85-year-old mother who probably doesn't have long to live. She lives with me and is dependent on me to get whatever it is that she needs and that includes her cigarettes. Despite having both advanced COPD, lung cancer and heart disease she still smokes 10-15 a day, down from around 40-50 in her younger days. I'd love her to stop smoking as she would then be eligible for oxygen, which would improve her quality of life hugely - but she just can't kick the habit - it seems to be the only thing she really enjoys.

Recently, I've been finding it more and more difficult to find her cigarette of choice, Marlboro Silver Blue. Apparently that's the "lightest" cigarette they make. I don't actually understand what light really means in the context of a cigarette as I've never smoked and can't bear it. I used to be able to find these things everywhere, but for the last year or two the local Sainsbury's petrol station stopped selling them but you could get them in the main store. But for the past two months, the main store hasn't had any deliveries of that particular type. so they just have a hole on the shelf where they should be. But they say it's no longer showing up on the paperwork they get in. When I ask for an explanation, I'm met with a shrug. There's a Tesco about 20 minutes away, and they haven't had any for weeks. They don't know why they haven't had deliveries either.

As a last resort, I'd been buying them from an M&S petrol station nearby, but even they had no more stock. Mum's very particular about the brand and type, and is giving me all sorts of emotional blackmail about how if I don't find them, I'm going to force her to try to go out to get some. She just doesn't seem to understand that they just don't seem to be available any more.

Does anyone else smoke this particular cigarette? Can you still get them? If not, what would be the most similar replacement? Can you order cigarettes online? I haven't found anyone selling them. I absolutely hate buying cigarettes - it must be how a Guardian reader feels when forced to buy the Daily Mail. But I'd rather buy them than make mum miserable in her final months...

[otherman]

Far from being the lightest cigarettes. Silk Cut Silver (still available) are about 1/6 th of those Marlboros. Maybe you could convince her to swap, or just reload an old empty pack?

[oakdale]

They seem to be available for ordering over the internet, also Morrisons and Tesco look like they stock them, it's a long time since I smoked cigarettes but I can't believe price of them now.

[beambeam1]

Are they menthol? I believe they have been outlawed so you may well have been using up the last of any stock.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I’m amazed a traditional style tobacconists hasn’t become the latest hipster trendy shop that every town needs a couple of actually.

[randlemarcus]

Fussy smoker here. If she likes Marlboro Silver Blue, go find a small shop, talk to the owner, as they will be the ones either ordering, or physically going to Bookers, into the Tobacco cave. Get him to buy the brand you want. There's very little profit in it for him, so smile.

If she isn't wedded to the brand, find a Polish shop that sells snides, and get the Russian or Nigerian ones for £6 a pack.

[wiliferus]

B&H Sky blue might be a decent match. They’re the lightest B&H make. Also, if she’s used to a “Premium” brand, ie Marlborough, she might be happy to try B&H as it’s a perceived premium brand by the oldies.

[LunarOne]

beambeam1 said:

Are they menthol? I believe they have been outlawed so you may well have been using up the last of any stock.

Nope they're not menthol.

[LunarOne]

wiliferus said:

B&H Sky blue might be a decent match. They’re the lightest B&H make. Also, if she’s used to a “Premium” brand, ie Marlborough, she might be happy to try B&H as it’s a perceived premium brand by the oldies.

Thanks, I might get her some of those and see if they work!

[NorthDave]

Costco have a decent cigarette section I think which might help?

[LunarOne]

NorthDave said:

Costco have a decent cigarette section I think which might help?

There are no branches near me, and if I recall you need to be a member to shop there. I'll have to find another way.

[Googie]

Wasn't aware of this brand but availble from link below

https://www.turmeaus.co.uk/marlboro-silver-blue-ki...

[wiliferus]

Googie said:

Wasn't aware of this brand but availble from link below

https://www.turmeaus.co.uk/marlboro-silver-blue-ki...

The op doesn’t mention of cost is an issue, but I was surprised to see the prices that high from an on line retailer. For some reason in my head they’d be cheaper.
Fags are expensive anyway, but I can get B&H Blue for £9.50 from my local newsagent. £11 if I go to the garage for convenience. But on that site they are £11.34 a pack.

[Cotty]

LunarOne said:

beambeam1 said:

Are they menthol? I believe they have been outlawed so you may well have been using up the last of any stock.

Nope they're not menthol.

But they also appear to be quite new i.e. only came out after mentol were dropped/banned. She can't have been smoking them long.
https://www.turmeaus.co.uk/marlboro-silver-blue-ki...

[LunarOne]

wiliferus said:

Googie said:

Wasn't aware of this brand but availble from link below

https://www.turmeaus.co.uk/marlboro-silver-blue-ki...

The op doesn’t mention of cost is an issue, but I was surprised to see the prices that high from an on line retailer. For some reason in my head they’d be cheaper.
Fags are expensive anyway, but I can get B&H Blue for £9.50 from my local newsagent. £11 if I go to the garage for convenience. But on that site they are £11.34 a pack.

How do you arrive at that price? I think they were around £11.50 at the supermarket and more like £14 at the petrol station. But at £142 for 10 packs, my rudimentary maths tells me they are £14.20 a pack!

[Googie]

LunarOne said:

How do you arrive at that price? I think they were around £11.50 at the supermarket and more like £14 at the petrol station. But at £142 for 10 packs, my rudimentary maths tells me they are £14.20 a pack!

Reference to the price of his brand B&H Blue on that website

[LunarOne]

Googie said:

LunarOne said:

How do you arrive at that price? I think they were around £11.50 at the supermarket and more like £14 at the petrol station. But at £142 for 10 packs, my rudimentary maths tells me they are £14.20 a pack!

Reference to the price of his brand B&H Blue on that website

Ah thanks!

[wiliferus]

LunarOne said:

Ah thanks!

Yea sorry for the confusion Lunar, I wasn’t overly helpful quoting prices other than the ones you’re looking for.
Either way, that website is pretty steep!

[rastapasta]

do you know anyone flying in from Switzerland?? they are fairly cheap there. Otherwise, and im sorry its also a long shot, anyone who works in shipping as the captains usually have them in the safes for bribing locals.

otherwise the suggestion as regards to a polish brother getting you the nigerian version.

[coppernorks]

Gobsmacked when the shop assistant asked a bloke for £13.20 for 20, an expensive brand maybe, but thank God I gave
up when they went over £4 a pack.