Scotland, changing the smoking age

[PandaPorn]

Ok, firstly, I've been a smoker since I was 13. I've been able to get fags easily from shops or getting people to jump in for me.

In Scotland, on 1st October 2007, (17 days before my 18) there raising the smoking age for 16 to 18.

Why, the drinking age is 18 and children as young as 10 can get drink easily. Why will this differ with cigarettes?

[emmytee]

It won't. But its just a piece of outdated law that needs fixed. No-one will pay much attention, but at least its on the books the government can wash its hands of the matter.

[UWDarDar17]

At 6/8/07 09:00 AM, PandaPorn wrote: Why, the drinking age is 18 and children as young as 10 can get drink easily. Why will this differ with cigarettes?

First off, if your birthday is 17 days after the raising of the smoking age, it's not that big a deal. Think about the 13-yr-olds who smoke now. What will they do?

Second, think about quitting smoking. It's a nasty and expensive habit and it's alltogether bad for you. But I ain't your poppa, so you do what you want.

Third, consider America. You have to be 16 to drive, 18 to smoke, but 21 to drink. It's a ridiculous system. I'd rather the drinking age be 19. That way, you've spent a year in college (or working a full-time job), you've matured. And it increases tax revenue, and decreases the likelihood of alcohol-related accidents. Everyone knows that once something becomes legal for you, it loses that exciting stigma attached to it. Here, everyone under 21 would love to go to a party to get shit-faced, because they aren't allowed to. The 21-and-older group is content with three or so beers with some buds at a bar. At least, that's how it is in my town.

[Slat]

You're an idiot for smoking since 13..

My ex gf was smoking cigs and weed since 11 (now she's 18) and now i heard that she'll die of lung cancer..

[Brick-top]

To be honest, who gives a flying fuck? It's not exactly like coppers are going to pull you aside and ask for ID since the crippling blow to smoking in public areas has made it almost impossible for them to see you smoking.

COP Excuse me, are you lads 18?
Person Erm, this is a beer garden mate, what do you think?

That law is about as enforcible as....well all the other stupid laws.

[AdamRice]

I've always found it interesting from a cultural point of view how Europeans are more found of smoking then Americans.

These days smoking is typically looked down on or seen as a nasty habit in the US.

[PandaPorn]

At 6/8/07 12:45 PM, AdamRice wrote: I've always found it interesting from a cultural point of view how Europeans are more found of smoking then Americans.

These days smoking is typically looked down on or seen as a nasty habit in the US.

It's like hat in europe mate. The social tends of smoking are changing and it's now not acce[ted by most.

[Dash-Underscore-Dash]

At 6/8/07 12:45 PM, AdamRice wrote: I've always found it interesting from a cultural point of view how Europeans are more found of smoking then Americans.

These days smoking is typically looked down on or seen as a nasty habit in the US.

Probably because smokers don't seem to realize how bad they smell.

[HighlyIllogical]

Smoking is something that should be restricted, naturally. Raising the legal age is intended to be a measure to prevent access. Naturally, it won't work, but it's a step in the right direction..

[InsertFunnyUserName]

At 6/8/07 10:33 AM, UWDarDar17 wrote: Third, consider America. You have to be 16 to drive, 18 to smoke, but 21 to drink. It's a ridiculous system.

It really is messed up. You can change the fate of your entire country and be in complete control of something that is practically a death trap before you are considered old enough to handle drinking a liquid.

Now, I've never been an advacate for alcohol or tabacco abuse, but I think that people need to get their priorities in order.

What I think that they should do is to have the driking age be lower than the driving age. That way, people can have experience dealing with drinking responcably before they are allowed to be in control of a four-ton piece of equipment going 70 miles per hour. As an idea, the drinking age could be 18 and the driving age could be 19. That way, you've finished grade school and are at the point where you are making the desision to where you want your life to go.

As for voting and tabacco use, I think an idea should be that they should both be 18 years. If you can handle the responcibility of your entire country, you can handle the desision of whether of not to use soft drugs like tabacco.

[TheBasics]

They are just trying to act like they are enforcing some rules beneficial to society. The know people will still be able to get cigs easy. And the stores don't care because............they're makin money.

[Mathaeus]

At 6/8/07 10:39 AM, Slat wrote: You're an idiot for smoking since 13

He's an idiot for smoking at all.

[JakeHero]

I never saw the big deal about smoking. I've been smoking since I was fourteen, when I started highschool and neither my stamina, strength, or endurance has waned.

[SnakeSkull]

Unless they switch to a "We are watching you" system early drinking and smoking is gonna stay alive.

[fahrenheit]

At 6/8/07 08:07 PM, JakeHero wrote: I never saw the big deal about smoking. I've been smoking since I was fourteen, when I started highschool and neither my stamina, strength, or endurance has waned.

so your stamina and strength is at the level of when you were fourteen?

seriously though, I dont think at such a young age smoking does so much to your health as when your in your late twenties and thirties, I know a guy who smokes weed twice a day and hes incredibly active

[JakeHero]

At 6/8/07 09:34 PM, fahrenheit wrote: so your stamina and strength is at the level of when you were fourteen?

No, I mean the progression is the same. I went on to varsity wrestling in my senior year.

[Bolo]

At 6/8/07 08:07 PM, JakeHero wrote: I never saw the big deal about smoking. I've been smoking since I was fourteen, when I started highschool and neither my stamina, strength, or endurance has waned.

It's more about the years you lose at the end of your life, and the stamina loss that occurs as your lungs fill with tar, smoke, and even—I read this in NewScientist— radiation, over a few decades of prolonged use. In fact, radiation is now being blamed as one of the major reasons that people who smoke contract lung cancer much earlier in life than non-smokers, as radiation encourages tumors and cancerous growth.

All in all, you're probably taking a good 10 years off your life if you smoke many cigarettes on a daily basis. I Don't mean to sound like a nitpick or anything, and I'm certainly not going to tell you to stop, but smoking isn't exactly a habit that should be encouraged.

[LegendaryLukus]

Smoking is really being cracked down on, and I agree that it isn't a habit that should be encouraged....unless your a pipe smoker because, who are we kidding, that's really cool.

I can't help but think that drinkers are next. I'm not saying drinkers won't be allowed to drink in pubs, but I think that alcoholism is one of the factors, especially in the UK, that people are starting to get worked up about.

[D2Kvirus]

I'd like ot see a 10-year old try and get some booze in at an offie myself...