Does "I ceased smoking" sound natural?

"I stopped smoking" sounds the most natural, "I gave up smoking" is not as natural, but more natural than "I ceased smoking"

The idea that "the customer is always right" started and comes into play only when an otherwise good or valued customer has a problem. You should do whatever is necessary to resolve the issue to the customer's satisfaction if you wish to keep there business. In such a case as you describe, it appears you just had an unruly customer walk through the door and start being belligerent for no reason at all. That is not something to which this philosophy would apply. I think as soon as someone issues his threats of physical violence I would have said, "Then I will be the one asking you to leave" and show him the door. We retain the right to refuse service to anyone and your language and threats are not welcome here." Your manager, in addition to supporting the mission of the business also has a legal obligation to maintain a safe working environment. By not allowing such a person to stay, he accomplishes both goals, because certainly if the a-ho did stay (you don't say what happened after that), he would have been threatening and disruptive the entire time, causing other customers to leave or cut short their stay. Would he rather lose one or several?

All three are correct but "ceased" is not used very often.

Most common would be "I quit smoking."

Men say stopped because it means that they have control. Its a dominant action. Giving up smoking means that external circumstance forces you to not smoke even though you wish you could, this makes you a loser that's not in control. And only dead people cease to do anything.

ceased is unnatural.

stopped and gave up are fine.

a lot of people would say they quit smoking.

I think "I stopped smoking" sounds the best. If you really did stop smoking good for you!!!!!!!!!!

no idea