New Jersey To Raise Smoking Age To 21?

[WhatInThe]

New Jersey is considering raising the smoking age to 21. Hawaii has already done so.

http://bigstory.ap.org/e7b112f2626942ee9bc634975fe79544

Some say the later one starts smoking the less chance of becoming a life time smoker and/or getting related illnesses. Others say it violates civil rights or is unfair considering other things 18 year olds are allowed to do.

 

[Bluecheese50]

I reckon if tobacco was a more modern drug it would be on the illegal list, and rightly so.

No one has ever been permitted to smoke in our home. Years ago someone lit up without asking if it was ok to do so, and my husband threw them out.

 

[Ralphy1]

But what about the wonderful taxes that wouldn't be going in to the coffers? Doubt it will pass...

 

[chic]

This is happening in several states and I believe MA is also slated to become one of them. It seems unfair that a young person can enter the military, fight and die for your country (U.S.) but can not legally buy a pack of cigarettes.

 

[SifuPhil]

This is happening in several states and I believe MA is also slated to become one of them. It seems unfair that a young person can enter the military, fight and die for your country (U.S.) but can not legally buy a pack of cigarettes.

Agreed.

This is already turning into a cradle-to-grave nanny state - why hasten the process?

Pretty soon, we'll be England Jr. layful:

 

[fureverywhere]

Agreed.

This is already turning into a cradle-to-grave nanny state - why hasten the process?

Besides like alcohol and porn and everything else, fiddling with age when it's legal doesn't make a big whoop. Any creative fourteen year old can get ahold of all of the above, guns too in some neighborhoods. Legal age doesn't change anything really.

 

[SeaBreeze]

It seems unfair that a young person can enter the military, fight and die for your country (U.S.) but can not legally buy a pack of cigarettes.

I completely agree Chic, it is unfair to say the least.

 

[Shalimar]

Nanny state? Canadianyr vote at nineteen, legal drinking age also. Soon pot will be legal countrywide, assisted dying also. Varying according to province or territory, legal smoking age is either eighteen or nineteen. I agree that upping the numbers

by a couple of years is unlikely to make any real difference, and if eighteen is old enough to die for one's country, all other laws should follow suit.

 

[fureverywhere]

I agree, just go back to eighteen across the board.

 

[chic]

Agreed.

This is already turning into a cradle-to-grave nanny state - why hasten the process?

Besides like alcohol and porn and everything else, fiddling with age when it's legal doesn't make a big whoop. Any creative fourteen year old can get ahold of all of the above, guns too in some neighborhoods. Legal age doesn't change anything really.

Agreed fur. It's stupid. Didn't these lawmakers ever buy booze from the packie when they were underage??? Teenagers will find a way to do everything they want to do legal or not ,and I think raising the smoking age may actually backfire by making it seem more adult and forbidden and therefore something that kids will want to do.

What genius ever thought this one up, I don't know. it's bound to fail.