California Raises Smoking Age To 21, And As A Smoker, I’m Torn On This One
California fraternity men are going to have to change the way they do pledge packs.
Starting Thursday, California residents will have to be at least 21 years old to get their nicotine fix, whether their poison of choice is cigarettes, dip, chew, or electronic cigarettes.
I guess pledges will have to pool their money and give the cash to a 21-year-old initiated brother… unless they have a pledge brother in ROTC — military guys can still buy tobacco at 18.
From Daily Motion:
Under a new law that takes effect Thursday this week, smokers will now have to be 21 and older to buy tobacco products in California. Last month, Governor Jerry Brown signed a series of tobacco-related legislation that increases the state’s minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21, regulates electronic cigarettes and restricts tobacco use in other ways. According to the law, military personnel with an identification card can still buy cigarettes if they’re 18.
I’m torn on this one. On one hand, I think that once a person becomes an adult, it should be up to them to put whatever they want into their body (short of meth and heroin and PCP). This is America, and if someone wants to slowly rot themselves from the inside out and knock a decade off their lifespan, that should be their prerogative. It’s what the founding fathers would have wanted.
But on the other hand, I started smoking at 18, and now I’m addicted as fuck. If I don’t blow down a heater once every two hours, I can’t even think straight. It’s bad. I wish I could quit. Live to see my grandkid’s wedding and all that jazz. But I don’t have the willpower. Not now at least. And it’s all because I was a dumbass high schooler who thought he was hot shit for smoking in the parking lot after class. This law won’t stop every 18-year-old Californian from chiefing boges, but it’ll help.
I still think the best way to curb juvenile tobacco consumption would be to legalize public weed smoking. That’ll give the kids the buzz they need. Too bad our political leaders are as scared of weed as they are rap music. Ah well. They’ll be dead soon. They grew up at a time when cigarette smoking was the norm, after all.
In other news, Ronny, the 25-year-old burnout who always posts up in the bus loop in his red jeep and camouflage hoodie, just bought 20 boxes of Marlboro 27s..
[via Daily Motion]
California. NF
9 years ago at 9:04 pmWhen Liberals say they’re for social freedom…
9 years ago at 9:10 pmI have never understand getting addicted. I started at 18 and went heavy through college. And just one day stopped with no problem. I don’t even smoke when I drink.
9 years ago at 6:15 amI definitely agree that autonomy is paramount, and I would have likely voted against the bill. However, most of you are missing the legitimate reasons other than assuming “the government knows what’s best for you.” One of the biggest expenses of any state is healthcare costs, and California has a huge spending issue. It’s like the author said it won’t keep all kids (adults) from getting a hold of tobacco, but it will prevent a lot of them from doing so. California knows that the biggest predictor of someone being a life long smoker is starting at a young age, and that those 3 years to mature might be long enough to prevent many of them from ever starting. Honestly though I believe the measure is meant to keep it out of the hands of younger kids more than 18-20 year olds. Every 14-15 year old has an 18 year old friend. They go to the same damn school. Not many have a 21 year old friend, and most 21 year olds will recognize, more than an 18 year old, how bad of an idea it is to get then cigs when they ask.
Again I’d probably still side with adults making their own decisions, but I’m at least willing to admit that the other side has some merit.
9 years ago at 6:23 amLook across the pond and you will find “more responsible drinkers” this is because they are able to drink at a young age. Putting something further out of reach only makes people want to do it more.
9 years ago at 8:16 amThis just in: Tobacco sales in Commifornia skyrocketed this week
9 years ago at 8:24 amIm a libertarian at heart. I believe the government has no business telling me what I can and cant put into my body. Obviously this doesnt include meth, heroine, and other drugs like them because at that point we all agree you arent just hurting yourself but you may be endangering other people. So yes, we want to restrict access to drugs that will cause, or could cause, people to hurt each other. The other thing I do firmly believe however, and like the author said, is that we should make realistic laws surrounding minors. Kids are stupid. I was one of them. If you would have let me drink at 18 I probably would have killed myself or someone else by accident. We talk about how 18 is when you become an adult but in the background we all know you definitely arent close to being mature and that makes sense because your body literally hasnt fully matured. It doesnt until you are about 25. It sucks for young people who want to do it, but I think it is the right decision. Totally pro cannabis though. Legalize the shit out of that stuff so people calm tf down a little.
9 years ago at 9:18 amYou contradict yourself. Marijuana poses just as much risk as alcohol when it comes to driving. It impairs motor skills just as much as drinking does. Just because people at 18 aren’t fully mature doesn’t mean they’re stupid. There’s always going to be those people who get themselves killed no matter what age you set the law at, but when it is given at a younger age, there’s no more incentive to sneak around like a criminal, and with that, the appeal to something taboo goes down as well. It’s not out of reach anymore, so the knowledge of responsible drinking will come around and be set into the mind more effectively at an earlier age. Legalize both at 18.
9 years ago at 11:04 amAs a Californian born and raised, fuck California. I wish Central California was its own state. We are nothing like the typical San Francisco/L.A progressive. Our economy is solely dependent on Agriculture and have a totally different view on life then the wacky hippies on the coast.
9 years ago at 12:56 pmOh trust me not a fucking thing is changing about those pledge packs. Those peons will have to figure it the fuck out
9 years ago at 5:00 pm