You may have guessed by the topics I cover, that I am of a certain vintage. This one is for the early millennials and Generation X.

I am always curious about the positives of negatives. I’ll explain.

Many people secured dates from smoking. The ‘do you have a light’ question has been used countless times by men looking for a way to engage a woman, mostly in a social setting. 

We know smoking is bad, but has it done some good. 

Historically, asking for a light served as:

A casual icebreaker, particularly among strangers.

A romantic or flirtatious gesture.

A way to start a conversation in bars, streets, or social gatherings

While there’s no concrete number, countless anecdotes, films, and cultural references point to it being a frequent meeting method, especially before smartphones and dating apps became common.

Here are a few notable examples from popular culture and history where people met or connected by asking for a light.

1. Casablanca (1942)

In this iconic film, lighting a cigarette was a frequent gesture of intimacy or power. The romantic tension between Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) often simmered during moments involving cigarettes and lighters.

2. James Bond Films

Bond often lights cigarettes for others (or vice versa) as a suave way to start conversations—especially with women. It’s a classic Bond move, symbolizing charm and control.

3. Mad Men (TV Series)

Set in the 1960s advertising world, Mad Men frequently shows characters initiating personal or business conversations by offering or asking for a light. It captures how ingrained this gesture was in social and professional life.

4. Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” (1963)

The lyric “It ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe / If you don’t know by now” comes from a song he wrote after a woman he met on the street asked him for a light and they spent time talking. (The meeting is debated, but similar encounters were common in Dylan’s early days.)

5. Real-Life Romances

Many couples from the mid-20th century have stories that begin with “I asked her for a light” or “He lit my cigarette.” It was a cultural shorthand for interest and approachability, akin to swiping right today.