*DEBATE* Should the age of being allowed to buy cigarettes be raised from 16 to 18

[bubble79]

'Once people hit 18 they are most all like "hey im cool i'm gonna buy me some smokes'

I doubt people think that to be honest. If they're that stupid then they will smoke before they're 81 (of course, but Ii meant 18. Typing errors lol). Not Being allowed to buy them doesn't stop people from buying them. And also, most people do not want to smoke.

[asher_]

Although raising the age to 18 won't stop the majority of youngsters smoking, it will stop some and that's exactly what needs to be recognised. I really think a noticable decrease will be seen in how many kids are seen smoking on the streets, which is great for themselves and people around them also getting affected by their smoke. I know that many 16 year olds disregard the fact that smoking damages their healths, and may be angry with this possible law being enforced, but hopefully it will make them realise, smoking isn't good and it really does do more harm than good.

[bubble79]

But although it will get a few people off, some people will start if the age is raised, because ti will add to the 'rebellious' nature of them, and if there was this chanhge, then despite all the publicity it woud cause as a short term effect, there would also bethe risk of trying something not allowed until later, as a long term cause.

[FlyingJesus]

It's not worth what little money our government currently has to stop a small percentage of teenage smokers quit. There's already been a price increase of something like 9p per pack (doesn't seem a lot but when you think about how many cigarettes are bought/sold... and how often some people buy), and I think that's the way to go about the problem. It costs very little to make the changes, will generate more money quite quickly, and potentially stop a very small amount of young users from smoking, which the government can make claims on to show us as a good country. Basically, you can rip off a smoker to ridiculous amounts if you change things little by little, as their habit needs to be fulfilled, and they will have to fork out the price for it, or stop - either way the government wins.

[NIKKEE]

nah
two years wont make much difference to anyones health

^_>

[bubble79]

I don't think that the point is thatpeople will be smoking for 32 years less. I think the point is more thatpeople will understand the risks better by 18 and so will decide not to smoke at all.

[NIKKEE]

i dont
no one listens
if there dumb enough to smoke at 16
they'll still be dumb enough to smoke at 18
and anyway
how many people do you know wait till the legal age?

[FlyingJesus]

Quite a lot.. lots of people start in college or uni, or if they've been steering away from it most of the time, on their 16th their friends say "here, have one just because you can", stuff like that. Still, that isn't the issue at hand..

[:G.M.T:]

tbh i think it should but i know lots of shops around where i live which actually do sell cigarettes to people under the age of 16 so i dont know what difference it would make

[Ash♥]

I suppose, but people smoke under age anyway.