Banning cigarette sales to anyone born after 2000!

[Grahamsant]

Smoking in Canada already bans smoking in cars where there are children, in front of hospitals and public areas. This bans sales to children who are 14 and under, and they are already not allowed to buy cigarettes unless thet are 19 here. Not sure exactly what the laws are in the UK.

There has to be rules made by someone, and citizens and voters lobby their members of government. They don't just sit around and come up with stuff in a basement on their own.

What's the big deal?

In the UK, the law is currently that you have to be over 18 to purchase tobacco. At the moment, bringing in the ban would only affect 14 year olds, but what it means is that when those 14 year olds hit 18 or 25 or 40...they would still never be able to purchase cigarettes. Or, probably by that time, any tobacco products.

[dvickery]

McDonalds and KFC aren't to blame, eating too much mcdonalds and kfc is. I live a 10 minute walk from both; miraculously I've managed to stay a healthy weight. It's time people took responsibility for their own actions, stop trying to blame everyone else for your own choices.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

i agree ... i just wish the sanctimonious reformed smokers would focus elsewhere thats all . .. and poor diet was the first "bad example" i thought of .

derrek

[laficion]

I just don't get these stupid laws In the whole,You can die for your country at 18 years old ,but you have to be over 21 years old to smoke ? I just don't get It. !!!!!

Guy

[ogus]

This year only sales to those born after 2012 should be illegal

[Ghabanos]

Cant put a blanket statement saying this is bad either. Cigarettes are bad not because big brother says so, but because they really are.

If we use the argument that it's our choice and our bodies, then crack, heroine and speed should be unregulated also.

Still, DD is correct in saying there is FAR too much money to simply ban.

Agree with this.

[CaptainQuintero]

Supposedly 4 billion cigarettes are imported illegally into the UK every year currently and it's rising each year, I personally wouldn't worry too much about bans unless i was a uk based retailer.

I don't know any cigarette smokers who buys from a story anymore!

[canadianbeaver]

Post 2000 citizens bound from buying tobacco for life... Huh. The idea is just going before the doctors, to see if they will lobby the government.

And good luck enforcing that one. Millions of adults not buying cigarettes or smoking? Might as well try enforcing chewing gum.

[...]

Founding fathers and great thinkers are part of a bygone era. It seems nowadays governments are about as educated as the masses, pushing agendas catering to the same masses' prejudices instead of what would actually be the wisest on the long run...

Remember the American prohibition? How did it go?

How about how the war on drugs has been performing thus far?

[nem]

According to the poll initiated by the original poster, ~27% of the folks here support banning the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2000. This is rather surprising considering the sentiments echoed in this thread.

[potpest]

According to the poll initiated by the original poster, ~27% of the folks here support banning the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2000. This is rather surprising considering the sentiments echoed in this thread.

I'm amazed that cigar smokers agree with making tobacco illegal

[Grahamsant]

According to the poll initiated by the original poster, ~27% of the folks here support banning the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2000. This is rather surprising considering the sentiments echoed in this thread.

I'm amazed that cigar smokers agree with making tobacco illegal

I've got to say I've found the results to be quite surprising myself. I (naively) assumed that posting this on a forum of cigar smokers would pretty much guarantee a 100% No all round.

Whilst I truly don't want anybody to feel persecuted by their choice...I am a strong believer in everybody having the right to their own opinions...I would be interested in hearing a little more from some of those who have voted yes to see the reason for their vote.

To echo my previous posts - I understand that smoking cigarettes is an incredibly bad thing for your health but my concerns are still on the wider implications and the possibility of cigars/all tobacco coming under this same ban.

[Habana Mike]

I've got to say I've found the results to be quite surprising myself. I (naively) assumed that posting this on a forum of cigar smokers would pretty much guarantee a 100% No all round.

Whilst I truly don't want anybody to feel persecuted by their choice...I am a strong believer in everybody having the right to their own opinions...I would be interested in hearing a little more from some of those who have voted yes to see the reason for their vote.

To echo my previous posts - I understand that smoking cigarettes is an incredibly bad thing for your health but my concerns are still on the wider implications and the possibility of cigars/all tobacco coming under this same ban.

Agree with that. Those voting in favor should at least express their opinions as to why.

I am not in favor of anything as draconian as this at all.

[Maplepie]

And good luck enforcing that one. Millions of adults not buying cigarettes or smoking? Might as well try enforcing chewing gum.

correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that banned in Singapore?

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[potpest]

correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that banned in Singapore?

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Smoking is banned in places where public congregate, same as uk; I'm perfectly fine with that

Oh you meant chewing gum; it is isn't it...insane

[Susanne]

What's next... banning voting on your local representation? I'm sorry, but if someone wants to smoke tobacco, and it affects no one but themselves, why does the government want to become the nanny to adults?

I see this on this side of the pond more and more, and remember when I visited my daughter in Hempsead, my favorite picture I took was one CCTV on the tube aimed at another CCTV... little did I know I could have been pinched and done time for that simple act.

(please don't tell!!!)

Seriously... are we all really 3 year olds, or are we adults? And how much more are we willing to take? What's next - banning Cuban smokes and rum... er... never mind. ;-)

[joeboxer]

While cigarettes have been scientifically proven to be the devil's spawn and major health crisis, I do not believe it is the government's responsibility to regulate everyone's health. I agree with those who compared this to regulating Big Macs, which are also creating a major health crisis and also addictive (although possibly less so than cigarettes). The argument for freedom to decide one's own health choices with regards to smoking cigarettes is different from the argument for disregulation of illicit drugs because the social consequences of drug addiction, particularly crime, are different from the consequences of smoking cigarettes, namely healthcare expenses. Having said that, I am all for personal responsibility and feel that if someone wants to use heroin (or smoke cigarettes!) they should be allowed to do so as long as they don't commit any crimes and have access to some sort of addiction recovery tools. Each man should be allowed to choose his own fate.

[sheppsea]

I think joeboxer sums it up nicely, and agree with the sentiments of this thread: the anti-cigarette laws are a step too far and although I'm all for education but they infringe on individual choice.

Even what is already in place is too far; as a non cigarette smoker I am not happy about being exposed to the disturbing photos on packets to shock people into quitting/not starting, plain packaging has been proved not to work, yet many countries are adopting it and law banning smoking in cars is just completely unenforceable!

People also seem to miss the point that death is inevitable and spending your life trying to avoid it is a fruitless task

I would be interested to see a poll to establish whether the general population support the anti smoking measures, are against them or just don't care if people smoke or not... my feeling (based on no fact - just general conversations I have had over the years) is that the vast majority of people don't care and the number of people that outright support the measures would be quite low

[RijkdeGooier]

The groups plan is to outlaw tobacco in the uk by 2035, as a cigar lover and a liberal thinker this is a pretty big deal. We're not talking about restricting the use of tobacco to your own home or to a certain age group, but gradually making it illegal.

You'll be a rich man if you'll hold on to your stock until that day comes

For the rest agree with both Shlomo and Enigma. In the end that's the question, to regulate or not to regulate. To suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous taxes or to stand tall and take up arms against a sea of regulations... it's a mind**** either way..

[earthson]

Next thing you know, they're going to try and outlaw reefer!

[muzz]

Not in my lifetime but it will happen from the pace I have seen the anti-smoking loby take hold here in the nazi state of West Oz

[Orion21]

This all just makes me sick. This is not the 40's, 50's or 60's when the health effects of tobacco were hidden from the general public making it impossible to make an educated health decision to smoke or not. Today we have all of the information in the world to make our own decisions. The plain truth is it comes down to money and power. The power to expand the influence of government through regulations designed to control the public. Additionally, it's about money because so many countries have universal healthcare systems that have to care for sick smokers. Combine those two ingredients and there are plenty of bleeding hearts that will be happy to save you from yourself to empower the government and expand its' power. There will come a time where the only things we can consume without penalty are vitamin infused protein meals and water....everything else will have been deemed a danger to your health!

[bugg4672]

Don't get me wrong. I know cigarettes are bad and they are extremely difficult to stop (I am 3 weeks and 3 days without a cigarette and doing well so far but the craving is still there and this isn't exactly the first time I've tried!!) so I get why a ban would have its benefits.

My main issue with this is the potential knock on effects. If they can ban to anyone born 2000 or after then why not ban it to everybody? Why not ban tobacco products all together? And then the thinking will be...what else can we ban?

I think this could have serious impacts on us who enjoy cigars! Even if bans are to people born after 2000, slowly but surely there will be less and less people who can buy and so less and less products will be imported. If there's less products being imported then the prices will absolutely go through the roof!

As has been said already there is an awful lot of money in cigarettes for the government through taxation. If they aren't getting their expected revenues through tobacco duties and tax then yet again taxes will be raised further to counter the loss.

Again, it's not that I think that banning it is without merit...I just think that there's far too much potential for any ban to expand beyond just cigarettes and there's too much potential for fall out effects on the humble taxpayer.

Gongrats on your 3 weeks and 3 days keep it up.

[Grahamsant]

I've just seen the notification because you quoted my post...just as I'm rolling a cigarette! :-(

Sadly I didn't do very well. I keep trying and last for months at a time and then fall back. Trying to lose weight with the missus at the moment and I'm afraid if I do both i'll fail at both. Just trying to concentrate on one at a time For now.

[bugg4672]

I've just seen the notification because you quoted my post...just as I'm rolling a cigarette! :-(

Sadly I didn't do very well. I keep trying and last for months at a time and then fall back. Trying to lose weight with the missus at the moment and I'm afraid if I do both i'll fail at both. Just trying to concentrate on one at a time For now.

Take it one day at a time, I tried for years, tired gum, patch, medicines, nothing worked then one day put them down cold turkey. The thing was, I was not even trying to quit then. That was in 2006 haven't touched them since. But cigars thats a different story

[avaldes]

It is pretty comical that the "good behavior police" want to ban cigarettes and legalize marijuana. I am sorry to hear that the government in the UK has fallen to the level of regulating the citizenry's behavior. Fast forward 20 years and imagine everyone may only consume/own/use whatever is on the approved list. Say goodbye to personal choice.