Further Tobacco Laws Passed

[ChaRee]

British doctors voted last Tuesday to ban cigarettes for anyone born after the year 2000, the first step in an initiative to make Britain completely free of tobacco within the next 20 years.

The motion passed at the British Medical Association’s annual representatives meeting, the Guardian reports, and will soon lead to the doctors’ union lobbying the government to introduce the ban on kids currently 14 years or older.

Source

I made a thread about Australian states banning tobacco to people past a certain age a little while ago. It was met with the usual "Silly Australians" response, but people seemed unaware to the fact that this is now a growing method to phase out cigarettes and tobacco use throughout certain countries in the world. Doctors and MP's throughout the UK have lobbied the same practice, with the intention of passing the law within the coming year. This will mean that anyone born after 2000 will never be allowed to purchase cigarettes or tobacco related products, even if they eventually become of age to buy them (eg, in 2018 when they start to turn 18).

Certain US states are to be soon lobbying similar laws, though these aren't expected to go through for another few years, meaning the cut-off periods for US states are likely to be 2001-2005 birth dates.

Do you agree with the law? Do you feel this is a step in the right direction for reducing cancer and other tobacco related health issues?

[717TURD]

Yeah it will definitely cut down smoking rates but there will always be smoke who use tobacco regardless of laws.

[ChaRee]

At 7/1/14 03:04 PM, 717TURD wrote: Yeah it will definitely cut down smoking rates but there will always be smoke who use tobacco regardless of laws.

Agreed, but I guess this is more part of a long term law. I think the UK is being a bit naft with their "tobacco free 2020" plan, but eventually (over time), literally nobody will be able to purchase tobacco as the only remaining people born before 2000 will either give up smoking or (as the years progress) pass on.

[NeonSpider]

It's stupid and asinine.

You said states in the US are also doing that? Which states in particular because I haven't heard of this.

I think it's stupid and asinine enough that Alabama and not sure what other few states raised the legal smoking age to 19. Let adults make their own decisions. "Nanny" states are nothing but totalitarian oppressors and the UK is a prime example of a "nanny" state.

I just think it's funny when 'Murica types are all like "America's the best country in the world" so then I retort with "Actually many countries in Europe are better" and they always always always say "Oh yeah? The UK is worse. America is better than Europe." And I always think to myself "Congratulations idiot. You've named one of the few European countries that's worse than the US. Do you even know of any other European countries? The UK doesn't equal all of Europe you know." but it's really no use even bothering trying to explain to those people.

They are also very likely to wear American flag styled clothing. Because, hey, maybe someone might forget they're in America or something and need a reminder? Outside of 4th of July or maybe other nation-specific days there's not really a good reason to be wearing American flag styled clothing. Everyone already knows you're in America.

[Entice]

Okay but if they ban my vape pen I'm gonna lose my shit

[Entice]

Wait will it be illegal to grow your own tobacco? Will possession become a crime?
It'd be pretty asinine to regulate tobacco like it's crack or something

[NeonSpider]

See, Colorado has the right idea. You legalize more stuff. You don't ban more stuff.

Personally I'd be all for a "If it doesn't hurt anyone except willing participants it's not illegal" law. That'd free up a lot of the prisons too. What we don't need is more prohibition-era nanny-state thinking.

[Entice]

At 7/1/14 04:19 PM, NeonSpider wrote: Personally I'd be all for a "If it doesn't hurt anyone except willing participants it's not illegal" law.

But third hand smoke on clothes is 1000x times more deadly than smoking don't you know

[All-American-Badass]

I know smoking is bad habit but to ban it for people born after the year 2000 it's just plain stupid. people have been smoking for centuries and they'll continue smoking until the the end of humanity. I don't think you shouldn't be able to indulge yourself just because you were born after an arbitrary year.

[NeonSpider]

@Entice

Pretty sure it's just the UK and I guess Australia. OP mentioned it possibly passing in some US states but didn't give specifics. Means it could get shot down and might never even pass.

You see, as nanny-state as the US is (Oh and it is), the UK is even more so. No offense to people living in the UK, mind. Actually I feel bad for them.

[stafffighter]

Tobacco will never be illegal in America. Their lobbyists kept it from being officially recognized as bad for you for decades. Even the Nazi's had that information (I'm not Godwining. It's relevant) There is too much money to be lost so don't you worry. And as for that other thing you're talking about, shut the fuck up, hippy.

[Entice]

At 7/1/14 04:36 PM, stafffighter wrote: Their lobbyists kept it from being officially recognized as bad for you for decades.

How is that even relevant now? Did I hallucinate all of those anti-smoking ads and warning labels?

[Xenomit]

I agree with the law. People who are already addicted can still smoke and people who've never smoked before won't get addicted. Or well, most people anyways, I assume there'd still be trailer trash parents who bought their kids cigarettes and chew or something.

[orangebomb]

For health reasons, the law actually makes sense, for just about every other reason, it's asinine. Then again, there are a lot of things in Europe that are virtually absurd or at the very least, scratching my head on why they make these kinds of decisions. I'll bet that they don't think about the long term ramifications of banning something that people use without a second thought, regardless of the health risk.

[WiiFittoToreinaa]

At 7/1/14 04:18 PM, Entice wrote: Wait will it be illegal to grow your own tobacco? Will possession become a crime?
It'd be pretty asinine to regulate tobacco like it's crack or something

I want to breath fresh air when I'm outside.

[stafffighter]

At 7/1/14 04:40 PM, Entice wrote:

At 7/1/14 04:36 PM, stafffighter wrote: Their lobbyists kept it from being officially recognized as bad for you for decades.

How is that even relevant now? Did I hallucinate all of those anti-smoking ads and warning labels?

Naivety of this level calls for Dennis Leary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELV5HV6-koI

[Xenomit]

At 7/1/14 04:44 PM, orangebomb wrote: I'll bet that they don't think about the long term ramifications of banning something that people use without a second thought, regardless of the health risk.

People who use it without a second thought can still get it

[Sevkat]

Wouldn't that just create a smoker's black market? The banned cocaine and people still manage to get it.

[Entice]

At 7/1/14 04:46 PM, WiiFittoToreinaa wrote:

At 7/1/14 04:18 PM, Entice wrote: Wait will it be illegal to grow your own tobacco? Will possession become a crime?
It'd be pretty asinine to regulate tobacco like it's crack or something

I want to breath fresh air when I'm outside.

I don't remember saying that people should be allowed to smoke in public

[NeonSpider]

At 7/1/14 05:01 PM, Sevkat wrote: Wouldn't that just create a smoker's black market? The banned cocaine and people still manage to get it.

Yes. Yes it would. And more people in prisons for yet another victimless crime. But with for-profit prison institutions what could possibly go wrong?

[NeonSpider]

At 7/1/14 05:11 PM, Entice wrote:

At 7/1/14 04:46 PM, WiiFittoToreinaa wrote:

At 7/1/14 04:18 PM, Entice wrote: Wait will it be illegal to grow your own tobacco? Will possession become a crime?
It'd be pretty asinine to regulate tobacco like it's crack or something

I want to breath fresh air when I'm outside.

I don't remember saying that people should be allowed to smoke in public

Oh he's probably one of those people who thinks if someone's smoking 20 feet away he's getting all affected by it when in reality you're more affected by car exhaust and cigarette smoke effect is much a placebo effect at those distances. Assuming it's not in an enclosed space like a building.

Also I'm completely for fining people who intentionally blow it in people's faces, etc... But there's polite smokers too.

[Piggler]

Never hinder the ability of one to make themselves look cooler at the cost of their health.

Never.

Then again, on the flip side, smoking will be, like, infinity times cooler in Britain because kids can't do it.

[ChaRee]

At 7/1/14 05:01 PM, Sevkat wrote: Wouldn't that just create a smoker's black market? The banned cocaine and people still manage to get it.

Possibly, but it's unlikely the market will thrive like other drugs.

"Hey Tim, want to try some tobacco?"
"What does it do?"
"Not a whole lot, calms you down a bit, but it's fucking addictive and super expensive after they were made illegal."

Nah.

Personally I'd be all for a "If it doesn't hurt anyone except willing participants it's not illegal" law. That'd free up a lot of the prisons too. What we don't need is more prohibition-era nanny-state thinking.

It's sure as fuck hurting every economies health system. Billions are being spent every single year on smokers who are crowding up hospital rooms and beds. But most research shows that people who start smoking AREN'T willing participants, rather people who understand that it is bad for you but are being peer pressured into the addiction.

At 7/1/14 04:36 PM, stafffighter wrote:

:There is too much money to be lost so don't you worry.

Currently America will stand to gain more money from the complete ban across all states than if they were to keep tobacco legal. Medical costs greatly outweigh the narrowing profits these companies are now making.

This has been brought to the attention and serious consideration of Australia, the UK and now America due to the mounting health costs caused by the addiction, in the same way the obesity/diabetic epidemic is attempting to be tackled due to mounting health costs to nations from the morbidly obese.

[WiiFittoToreinaa]

At 7/1/14 05:21 PM, NeonSpider wrote: Oh *"she's"* probably one of those people who thinks if someone's smoking 20 feet away he's getting all affected by it when in reality you're more affected by car exhaust and cigarette smoke effect is much a placebo effect at those distances. Assuming it's not in an enclosed space like a building.

Also I'm completely for fining people who intentionally blow it in people's faces, etc... But there's polite smokers too.

I don't like the smell of it and have be forced to smell it at some local bus stop or something.

[Avery]

Fuck that shit.

[Xenomit]

At 7/1/14 07:24 PM, Avery wrote: Fuck that shit.

Why

[NeonSpider]

At 7/1/14 06:56 PM, WiiFittoToreinaa wrote:

At 7/1/14 05:21 PM, NeonSpider wrote: Oh *"she's"* probably one of those people who thinks if someone's smoking 20 feet away he's getting all affected by it when in reality you're more affected by car exhaust and cigarette smoke effect is much a placebo effect at those distances. Assuming it's not in an enclosed space like a building.

Also I'm completely for fining people who intentionally blow it in people's faces, etc... But there's polite smokers too.

I don't like the smell of it and have be forced to smell it at some local bus stop or something.

My apologies. Usually people who have cartoon booby icons are male. Well if they're smoking right there next to you at the bus stop and haven't stepped away to have their smoke then clearly they're being rude. I'd be okay with fining people for that sort of thing. Of course there are many rude public transit passengers. That wouldn't be the only thing.

Laundromats have similar amounts of rude customers and I hate when people smoke *inside* the laundromats even though there's clearly "no smoking" signs and all that. The last thing you'd want after washing your clothes is to have them all smell like smoke just because of one rude customer. And they should be fined for that sort of thing. But again it's certainly not the worst behavior I've seen at laundromats.

But why punish polite smokers who always go out of their way not to bother people, who always ask if it's okay to smoke before lighting up, who never smoke in your house or car, who try to walk away from people to have their smoke, and who properly dispose of the cigarette butts in the ashtrays?

[Magical-Zorse]

Last time I checked, this was America.
Meaning if I want to destroy my body with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and fast food not only should I be allowed to it should be fucking encouraged.

[NeonSpider]

At 7/1/14 06:08 PM, ChaRee wrote: It's sure as fuck hurting every economies health system. Billions are being spent every single year on smokers who are crowding up hospital rooms and beds. But most research shows that people who start smoking AREN'T willing participants, rather people who understand that it is bad for you but are being peer pressured into the addiction.

Let me stop you right there. Just because you're peer-pressured doesn't mean you aren't the one making the choices. You could always decline. They aren't forcing it down your throat. They ARE willing participants. They make a choice and I've never heard of someone holding a gun to someone's head where it was life-or-death choice they had to smoke a cigarette. Just because someone may be weak-willed does not mean they didn't actively make that choice. Peer pressure does not absolve you of responsibility for your own actions.

As to the health care, I have a simple solution to that. Make them pay it out of their own pockets. Just say if it's smoking-related health insurance doesn't cover it. Solved. If you still choose to smoke you accept this risk.

[Shauna]

Great, more black market crap coming to the US. Next they'll ban alcohol.

Last time we banned these things, we had mobsters running the cities. We still have that happen but now there will be more blood shed. Yay U.S!