Legal smoking age, should it be 21?

2015-04-28T14:24:14-04:00

With Hawaii moving the legal age to 21 to purchase tobacco, what are your views? I am a smoker and have been trying to quit for a while. I think this would help, but wondering your opinions.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/27/us/hawaii-smoking-age-21-feat/index.html

Hawaii may become 1st state to raise smoking age to 21 - CNN.com

Hawaii is poised to become the first state in the nation to prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to anybody under age 21.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 2:35 PM

2015-04-28T14:35:48-04:00

In perspective, legal drinking age is 21 and look how many underage individuals get caught drinking. Not really sure increasing to 21 will help

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Apr 28 at 2015 2:38 PM

2015-04-28T14:38:07-04:00

I have mixed views on this...
on the one hand, there is ZERO doubt that smoking harms your body, so if the government raises the age to buy it, you are doing the populace a favor. Of course, on that logic, why not just make it completely illegal (which I dont agree with, but you see that logic train, yes?).
On the other hand, should we legislate health...or just educate and you take full responsibility for your decisions (I kinda like this idea more...but then, that logic trains says we legalize other things - i am glad cocaine is illegal, my surgeon doesnt need that option).

Response by SGT James Elphick made Apr 28 at 2015 2:41 PM

2015-04-28T14:41:38-04:00

This just sounds like we are going to continue to delay adulthood. Even though we will consider people an adult at 18 they won't be able to do adult things so they will be stuck in this weird limbo where they get in trouble like a child but are supposed to be considered an adult. I don't even really think it will cut down on smoking that much, just increase revenue for catching people smoking "underage". And what about 18 year old privates? They can die for our country but if they are stationed there they can neither drink nor smoke legally?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 28 at 2015 3:22 PM

2015-04-28T15:22:01-04:00

Nanny state.

Governments are not my parents.

If I want to put Arsenic in my body, I should be allowed. If the Government wants to tax me on the SALE of that, they should be free to do so.

But it is not the Government's job to protect me from myself.

Education is one thing, "defense" is another thing entirely.

Anyone here. Anyone at all think smoking is good for you? Anyone labor under that false idea? Anyone think breathing in fire, smoke, etc is a good idea?

Nope, didn't think so.

You made an informed decision to take up a bad habit and continue with it, knowing the risks that we have advertised ad naseum for at least 40~ years.

Treating adults like something other than adults is not going to change that.

Rant off.

SSG Private RallyPoint Member Not directed at you. Directed at state of Hawaii.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Apr 28 at 2015 3:24 PM

2015-04-28T15:24:28-04:00

Remove the drinking and the smoking age, let parents teach their kids properly (or not) and then have the kids deal with the consequences.

More laws = more criminals.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 3:39 PM

2015-04-28T15:39:29-04:00

Yes smoking is the worst travesty visited on man by man. I lost both my mother and grandmother to smoking induced lung cancer. It eats you from the inside out and it is not a pretty sight especially when the family tries to hang on with the use of machines. If this product was brought to market today the creators would be incarcerated. Just the effects of second hand smoke can be devastating over a life time. I support all laws against it use in the public, taxes to supplement the health care cost and doggedly harass my friends that do smoke to quit

Response by SPC Michael Frugoli made Apr 28 at 2015 3:57 PM

2015-04-28T15:57:53-04:00

I believe the government needs to step back a little. after 18 they are adults. drinking i dont see the difference EXCEPT brain development which may be part of why its 21. i say let people make their own choices.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 28 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-04-28T16:47:04-04:00

No, it should not be raised. The drinking age should be lowered to 18, or both age restrictions should be eliminated. I believe that much underage drinking/smoking is because society makes these activities 'adult' things to do. Smoking is stupid, and kids know that. They do it to be grown up, in a strange way. Drinking is the same way, to an extent.

Regarding the drinking age particularly, I think it is ridiculous that you can sit on a jury that might convict someone of a capital offense, help select the next president, and volunteer to fight and kill and die for your country -- all before you're old enough to have a legal glass of wine with dinner.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 4:51 PM

2015-04-28T16:51:13-04:00

Absolutely not! And the drinking age needs to be 18 again.. Government and LE have too many reasons already to pull people over.