In his State of the County address, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein said he would push for the county to raise the age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Five states have raised the age to 21: California, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine and New Jersey. Advocates say such laws reduce smoking because 90 percent of smokers take up the habit before age 20 and teens are less likely to know someone over the age of 21 to purchase tobacco for them.
What do you think?
Should Ulster County raise the age for tobacco purchase from 18 to 21?
- Yea (65%, 186 Votes)
- Nay (35%, 102 Votes)
Total Voters: 288
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It’s not about the cigarettes. Telling a 18 year old that they can’t have access is wrong. It removes autonomy as an individual. Eighteen year olds are sent to war, but they can’t buy cigarettes, it is hypocritical.
Stop restricting youth. Give them education and responsibility. We can not protect them from themselves by legislating. Education – yes – a good place for money is in the vitality of a campaign to educate.
I was married at 17, and who was going to tell me I couldn’t buy (have) a cigarette at 18? Would have made it more
desirable. Next thing we’ll be saying you can’t smoke when you’re pregnant, can’t drink either. Maybe lock up all pregnant women? But you can vote and are taught to kill? Come on, people!! Being afraid of prosecution is not a good reason to not smoke. The good reason is by understanding how it hurts and facing the cost of addiction,
Yes smoking is bad and damaging but let’s treat people consistently; teach them convincingly about these dangers; help them to become thinking adults!.. Not babysit them and by making it criminal to purchase. And go after the tobacco companies.
” Next thing we’ll be saying you can’t smoke when you’re pregnant, can’t drink either.”
You’d seriously have a problem with that?
Yes! Raise the age. The pre-frontal cortex of the brain does not fully develop until at least 21-25 years old. This is where decision making takes place. Any support we can put in place to give young people less opportunity to make poor choices the better.
yes, raise the age.
No, at 18 they are considered adults. Many, graduated from HS have a job and live independently at 18. They can drive, vote and be drafted. Sometimes people need to be allowed to make their own mistakes.