Discussion: Smoking age raised from 18 to 21 in California

Reza

Quote:

California’s governor on Wednesday signed a bill raising the smoking age from 18 to 21, making the state the second — and most populous — in the U.S. to do so.
The bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown also imposes the same restrictions on electronic cigarettes — a provision that the tobacco industry argued would harm smokers who use the devices to transition away from traditional forms of smoking.

Raising the minimum age was also opposed by those who argued that if at 18 the public can enlist in the military and vote, they should be allowed to make their own choice when it comes to smoking.]But the measure had strong support in the Assembly and Senate, which also approved bills to expand non-smoking zones to more schools and public areas and raise licensing fees for retailers.

Advocates of raising the age limit for purchasing tobacco point to studies that show most smokers start before they turn 18. Raising the limit to 21, then, would make it harder for minors to buy tobacco from their 18-year-old friends.

Preventing more people from starting to smoke will also mean huge healthcare cost savings down the road, proponents say.

source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jasonwells/...king-age-to-21
California always leading the way.

feelslikeadream

that G.U.Y.

Good. I probably would never have tried smoking if the legal age to buy was 21.

Lord Blackout

Well thank God I'm already 21

Dessy Fenix

but lower the drinking age please.

SelenaTheWinner

Thats good.

Outlaws

Nutitle

KitKat

~~Wish they'd raise all the ages to 23 but~~ That's great news!!

Bloo

I don't know how I feel about this, honestly. I'm very anti-smoking, but I don't know what the impact of this will be... I could see it (at least where I'm from) just increase the interest in it.

Honeyßéy

I don't think it's gonna stop the kids from getting them.. But that's good I guess.

Rihinvention

Ban them altogether.

Bitchcraft

Oops!

Titan

Good.

rl231

As much as I hate smoking and agree with the law, this is going to backfire so hard.

Reza

Quote:

Originally posted by Bloo

I don't know how I feel about this, honestly. I'm very anti-smoking, but I don't know what the impact of this will be... I could see it (at least where I'm from) just increase the interest in it.

people have a very different mindset between 18 and 21 about doing risky things. Even if it provides a psychological buffer it will still probably prevent thousands from smoking which in effect could save people a lot of money in healthcare costs from smoking related complications.

xXavril

This is stupid, obviously if teens drink before they're 21, and already smoke before they're 18, what is this even going to do? Instead of asking their 21 year old friend to buy just alcohol, they'll add cigarettes to that list, too. Don't get me wrong, I do understand why they're doing it, but I just see it being ineffective. No matter where you are you can always find a 'legal' adult who wouldn't mind supplying.

ralani

I don't agree with this. People should be able to do as they please with their bodies, even if it kills. Obesity is an epidemic and I don't see lawmakers putting restrictions on fastfood chains.

wesleywalrus

Most kids have fakes to drink at 21, if they want cigarettes, they will get cigarettes.

ShouldersSideways

Quote:

Originally posted by xXavril

This is stupid, obviously if teens drink before they're 21, and already smoke before they're 18, what is this even going to do? Instead of asking their 21 year old friend to buy just alcohol, they'll add cigarettes to that list, too. Don't get me wrong, I do understand why they're doing it, but I just see it being ineffective. No matter where you are you can always find a 'legal' adult who wouldn't mind supplying.

Tbh using this logic we might as well not have a drinking age because minors (kids as young as like 12 sneak alcohol) are still gonna find ways to get alcohol