UK plans to pass law banning anyone born after 2008 to buy or smoke cigarettes

lyricism: > I mean, you’re asking “is it fair that older people get to poison themselves and not the younger ones?” That is another way to put it yes. lyricism: > And the answer is no, we shouldn’t be allowing companies to poison old people either. However, it’s not that simple, because of nicotine withdrawal. I’ve never been a smoker so that is something I did not have an appreciation for. Thank you for highlighting this point. lyricism: > PurpleDime: > >> is it fair that people who are not part of that demographic would need to have their ID verified. > > Legally that was already required anyway if you were buying cigarettes so no change here. I think you misundersood me. People born in 2008 are all turing 18 this year. The law applies to everyone born after, so 2009 and later. If you’re born in 2009 it’s currently illegal to smoke. Without this new law, someone born in 2009 will be allowed to buy cigarettes in 2027. But with it, they wouldn’t. My point was that in 2030, people born in 2009 will be 21 and not allowed to smoke. Whereas someone born in 2008 will still be allowed to buy tobacco. Is that fair? lyricism: > Unhealthy foods and alcohol don’t really do any long term damage if consumed in moderation. You make a valid point, but this does not apply to alcohol. As recent research revealed is that no amount of alcohol is safe for your health. lyricism: > The government proposes banning the sale for anyone born after a certain date. Is that government overreach too? I think you made some excellent points. In theory, no one who is born in 2009 is a smoker because they are not allowed to smoke, which would mean that they wouldn’t miss anything by the passing of this law. But in practice, is likely that a small percentage of people born in 2009 or later are already tobacco smokers. Most of the smokers I know started before they turned 18, and they were regular smokers before becoming adults. That said, all the minors who are currently smokers in the UK are likely a very small minority, but they are an important sub-demographic to consider. Onscreen5341: > but allowing already banned drugs (cocaine, fentanyl, LSD) is not a good idea either. I used to think that was true, but after researching the topic a couple of years back, I have a more nuanced position. That said, that’s a completely different conversation.