I hope this is the right place to post. There's a bill before the Commons to ban the purchase of tobacco to anybody born since 2008. There seems to be many issues with this. In years to come a shopkeeper will need to tell the difference between somebody 59 and somebody 60. Some people say it's a personal choice. Doesnt the same apply to drugs? Wont it just result in a bigger black market or people buying tobacco for others? Without a ban on smoking people will still take advantage of other ways of obtaining tobacco and there would still be the problem of secondary smoking. What about vaping?
Criminal gangs started making a fortune from day one of prohibition. Kids might not be able to legally buy cigarettes as they grow older but they will still be available and someone will supply those wanting them. Even if they made tobacco illegal in this country, as they did with alcohol during prohibition, it would be easy to smuggle it in. Even higher rewards for criminals. Did you wait until 16 before smoking or 18 before drinking? I don’t know of anyone who did.
Losing money is one reason they do not ban it. They make far more in taxation on the manufacture, distribution and sale of tobacco and the tax paid by those working in those things than it costs the health service. The other is that like prohibition they would only be available through criminal gangs. And some people would be attracted because it is illicit. More alcohol was drunk per capita during prohibition in the USA than at any other time.
When you look at other legal habits like betting and alcohol many people can indulge in moderation without bad side effects I dont think you can say the same about smoking and vaping
-> "Probation in the USA would suggest that the biggest beneficiaries of this would be criminal gangs." (about 12 and 15 if I remember right)
It wouldn't be the same as prohibition as cigarettes would be still legally sold until the last person born in 2008 died - so those desperate to smoke would just ask someone born before 2009 to buy them, as opposed to buying from the criminal world. No idea if it would work though. Do teenagers smoke tobacco anymore.. what's the point with snus and vapes available.. bit like using a typewriter, landline or diesel private car still ;
Of course they still smoke tobacco. Some still, like we did, think it looks cool. Why on earth someone who has never smoked starts to vape is a mystery. I sometimes pick granddaughter up from school and the amount of 14 year olds coming out vaping always surprises me.
