Tasmania plans to raise smoking age

[David]

This is a rather odd proposal. Any thoughts? Would it work? And even if it did, is it actually a good idea?

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/21/tasmanian-government-plans-to-raise-minimum-smoking-age-to-21-or-25

[npalm]

I don't see this as an odd proposal. If you agree that there should be an age limit in the first place, then its's just a question of what that age limit should be. My feeling is that 18 is too young for most kids to make a rational decision about using an addictive substance.

Of course, many kids will smoke regardless, but if raising the age limit reduces the number getting addicted then its's worthwhile.

Mind you, I might not be the right person to comment, I was dumb enough to start smoking at 24.

[think positive]

Most kids start in their teens don't they? Waste of time probably, but yes for npalm quoted reason I agree.

Just shut the industry down!!

Edited 50 times due to iPhone spellcheck!! LardAss lardass Kardashian r there it is!

[Jezza]

No point raising the smoking age because young adults (those who are defined as being between 18 to 21) will just find ways to smoke if they're desperate enough.

Prohibition never works in these instances when it relates to adults and their lifestyle choices such as alcohol, drugs and gambling for example.

[stui magpie]

Tobacco is legal but controlled and regulated. It makes no sense to me to say that 18 is old enough to vote, drink, sign contracts and all the things that go with being an adult, but you can't smoke until you're older.

[think positive]

[stui magpie]

Don't they already do that though? You can legally drink at 18 but you're on your P plates in Victoria for 3 years and are .00 the whole time. That's teaching some responsibility surely?

[think positive]

I gotta say, I really really wish my junior and her feral friends had to stay stone cold sober til they were 21, actually 25 might do it. They can't handle the responsibility of any bloody thing! Not all but some if them! But I get your point. One of the reasons I'm glad they got their licence at 18, neither drink very often at all. Shame about the ferals

[stui magpie]

Cuts both ways. My kids both gave it a fair nudge when they were young, now both don't drink much at all. Better to have it in your past at 23-25 than just starting at it.

[David]

The real problem with raising age limits is that people of a certain age want to do these things anyway and will usually find a means of doing so. Banning alcohol for under 25s would just be prohibition all over again.

Tobacco's slightly different because you don't really want it unless you've already tried it (or if people around you are already smoking). So, maybe you could effectively phase it out. But I think we're going the other way with drug legalisation, and treating adults like children isn't much of a solution. Better to follow the practice of marijuana legalisation in Colorado and elsewhere, except in reverse - kill the big industries but allow sufficient legal recreational use so as to prevent a black market from forming. In the case of existing addicts, allow prescription access. Otherwise, let people grow their own in small quantities and perhaps allow it to be sold at specialty tobacconists at high prices.

I don't know if all that would work, but it'd have to be an improvement on the current model.

[think positive]

62 smokin toinghg

[HAL]

Sorry you've lost me, we were talking about Yaaaaaaaaa .

[think positive]

[HAL]

Can you please rephrase that with fewer ideas, or different thoughts?

[stui magpie]

You know you're a bogan when you let your 14 year old daughter smoke at the table in front of her kids.