CO (among other states) move to change tobacco age to 21

[Ronin13]

I'll just say, something like 18 means 18 didn't stop me from picking up the habit at 16... 12 years later I'm still at it (trying to quit, though), just as not being 21 didn't stop me from drinking. I'm not sure if this is the best choice or not, but I'll leave this here for discussion...

Colorado lawmakers look to outlaw tobacco use for those under 21
A bill that would raise the age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21 is intended to try to keep young kids from picking up the habit.
The bipartisan measure, from two Democrats in the House and two in the Senate, could be introduced as early as Tuesday.
Jodi L. Radke of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said most 18-year-olds are seniors in high school.
"They are able to go off campus during the lunch hour and buy tobacco products and oftentimes they are coming back to use them across the street or near campus and sharing them with their peers," she said. "The push behind this is to delay the initiation with kids; 95 percent of tobacco users begin using tobacco before the age of 21."
The bill will cover tobacco products, including cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and chewing tobacco. It does not increase penalties, only the age.
An underage person who buys a tobacco product commits a Class 2 petty offense and faces a $100 fine or community service. It also is a petty offense to sell to a minor, with fines varying depending on the number of offenses.
In addition to Colorado, legislatures in Utah and Maryland will take up the issue this year, Radke said. Already, New York City and Hawaii County in Hawaii have raised the age from 18 to 21.
The sponsors of the Colorado measure are Sens. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, and John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Reps. Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen.
"Drinking is 21. Marijuana is 21. Gambling is 21. We're just making tobacco 21 also," King said. "It's a consistency across those laws."
He added that studies show people who haven't started smoking by age 18 generally don't start.
(ED- Not sure how accurate that is...)

Read more: Colorado lawmakers look to outlaw tobacco use for those under 21 - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/politics/c...#ixzz2tzjAv9SA

[3beansalad]

My 12 year old has a classmate that smokes... this is waste of legislative effort as usual.

[enfield]

So how do they mentally justify allowing people who cannot smoke or drink the ability to vote.

[Zundfolge]

So how do they mentally justify allowing people who cannot smoke or drink the ability to vote.

Because those people are more likely to vote for Democrats ... that is the only justification for allowing ANYONE to vote.

[BPTactical]

If an 18 year old is old enough to die for his country, he is old enough to have a smoke and a beer.

God these people sicken me

[bobbyfairbanks]

If an 18 year old is old enough to die for his country, he is old enough to have a smoke and a beer.

God these people sicken me

Not it just this but if you are capable of voting for officials but those offials limit your ability to do what you want to with your body they are expressing ownership of you. Also by making these arbitrary age limits we are making classes of citizens. Are you a better or more moral person just because you are 21 rather then 18.


i would ask you to remember who is the real enemy.

[wctriumph]

Yeah, right, that will work, sure it will.

I started at 15 and smoked on and off into my 40's. I remember driving to work and I had to pass a Jr. High school and a elementary school. The Jr. High kids could be seen smoking on the way to school and at one point in my drive there was an alley where a 5th grader was selling cig's to class mates for a dollar a stick. That is $20 a pack when a pack cost $0.75 in a vending machine.

So, yeah, lets raise the minimum smoking age to 21 and I am sure that it will save many children from dying of cancer in the next 40 to 50 years.


TEA

III

[blacklabel]

But remember guys, you can legislate morality.

[spqrzilla]

More legislators too stupid for life.

[Eric P]

If an 18 year old is old enough to die for his country, he is old enough to have a smoke and a beer.

God these people sicken me

If they don't trust you to make decisions on whether to smoke and drink, how can they trust you to follow orders and shoot people? These ages should all be the same. 18 or 21. Pick an age that defines an adult and stick with it.