If the intent is for only adults to be able to smoke legally, they need to raise the age to somewhere north of 27.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
Is smoking still as popular in the Military as it was in the 60's and 70's?

If so, there will be a lot of disappointed soldiers, sailors and airmen.

For a long time the military actually encouraged smoking (in WWII the rations packages from the US contained small packs of cigarettes). It was believed (and may be true) that the nicotine kept the soldiers more alert.

Both my parents smoked and I grew up hating the habit. I have never tried even one cigarette, and try very hard not to be in the presence (at least downwind) of anyone smoking. I also hate that many smokers are terrible litterers. However, all that being true I still am not in favor of the government making this type of law. I agree that being "adult" (at age 18 most places) should allow a person to make adult decisions--one of which is whether or not to smoke.

flashguy

If you aren’t mature enough to drink and smoke at age 18 then you aren’t mature enough to join the military or vote.

This is a common phrase.
I look at it a bit differently.

I am good with being 21 to smoke or drink, however those within the military on base should be exempt.
Those having joined the military should have the right to vote regardless of age. (I joined at 17).
I have an 18 year old college student which gives me a bit of perspective there as well.

The right to vote should be raised to 21 to avoid undue influence by higher learning institutions.

I would support this:
21 for smoking, vaping, drinking & voting with an exception for those in the military on base.
Military ID card gives you right to vote regardless of age.

What about weed?

quote:

Originally posted by SevenPlusOne:
What about weed?

72 with no military exemption unless medically prescribed.

Changing the law from 18 to 21 to legally smoke tobacco is absurd!

quote:

What about weed?

^^^^^^^^^
I believe it is 21 in states that allow recreational weed. I don't think it has been cleared yet for postal workers.

quote:

Originally posted by SevenPlusOne:
What about weed?

Weed can go in its own thread. Let’s stick to the OP, please.

I had been smoking for 5 years and was a chain smoker by the time I was 21. I quit smoking the day my now 38 year old son was born. I am still living with permanent damage caused by smoking, as are all former smokers. MRI's do not lie.

I don't know whether this law will have an effect on teen smoking. I do know that nearly half a million people die in the U.S every year from smoking related disease. The military services have aggressive anti-smoking policies and many private and public entities will not hire a smoker due to the liability to their health insurance programs and sick leave use. I can tell you that it is rare to see active duty military personnel smoking nowadays as compared to the Vietnam era.

I also know that traffic fatalities in the age slot rose beginning in the 70's when states lowered the drinking age from 21 to 18, and dropped off again when the drinking age was raised back to 21. The minimum age for Alcohol use by military personnel depends upon the location of the base. It is 21, unless the local laws allow drinking at age 18.

The law bans the sale of smoking products to persons under 21, thus targets the purveyors of the products. I really don't know how much the new law will do, but I don't blame congress for trying to do something to diminish use of this harmful product by our young people.

Since cigarettes are so harmful and pointless I don't care if they make the age 110 to purchase them. Tobacco can go extinct for all I care.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Skins, if you don't mind me asking, when did you start smoking?

I get the point, it was before I was eighteen, but also before they made it harder for kids to get cigarettes.

Same here (and I feel your pain, quitting is tough!)

A “legal age” didn’t stop me from drinking before I was 21, nor did it stop me from smoking before 18. Weed was illegal back then too, but I and a lot of others smoked it as well.


My question is, how much money was spent on raising the age to 21? Couldn’t that money be better spent on education and the prevention of kids (young adults) smoking?

Let’s face it, kids/ young adults are still going to smoke. Raising the age to 21 aint stopping it. I’d have a hard time telling some 18, 19, 20 year old in the military, “thanks for your service, here’s a ticket because you sparked up a Marlboro.”

We need to pick an age of majority and stick with it across the board. If that age is 18 fine. If it’s 21 or 25 fine but we need to quit with the half measure shit that trusts people to drive at 16 and vote or get sent to a foreign land to die at 18 but won’t let them smoke or drink until 21 and lets them hang out on mom and dads insurance even later. This mixed message doesn’t do young folks any favors and leaves many in a certain subset of the population unable to function as they should when the extended training wheels come off.

quote:

Originally posted by HayesGreener:

The law bans the sale of smoking products to persons under 21, thus targets the purveyors of the products. I really don't know how much the new law will do, but I don't blame congress for trying to do something to diminish use of this harmful product by our young people.

So, do it for the children, eh?

If it stops one smoker, that is one less likely taxpayer health care burden

^^^ what if I apply that same logic to guns?

Sure. I love it. As long as we raise the age to vote and serve in the military to 21 as well. Fucking hypocritical bullshit.

Let's send kids to fight and die before they're allowed to drink and smoke.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by HayesGreener:

The law bans the sale of smoking products to persons under 21, thus targets the purveyors of the products. I really don't know how much the new law will do, but I don't blame congress for trying to do something to diminish use of this harmful product by our young people.

So, do it for the children, eh?

Please don't miss the point that it is an inherently dangerous and poisonous substance.

quote:

Originally posted by Jester814:
Sure. I love it. As long as we raise the age to vote and serve in the military to 21 as well. Fucking hypocritical bullshit.

Let's send kids to fight and die before they're allowed to drink and smoke.

You posted what I was thinking. Government overreach once again...

How is this a federal government issue?
If the States want to do it, have at it.

There already have been several states that have individually passed legislation to raise the tobacco-buying age to 21.

As of December, 19 states have raised the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21, according to the nonprofit Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

I wonder whether Walmart will change their signs to anyone looking younger than 65, rather than the current 40. It is always funny to see a person who looks well over 40 to get carded for smokes. Surprisingly, I have seen older women get angry about being carded for cigarettes.