[belltaco]

> Since this research shows that people hardly ever start smoking cigarettes after the age of 20, the team poses the idea that it could be beneficial to raise the age limit for buying them.

Interesting, the recent tobacco age limit increase in the US from 18 to 21 should help.

[superkuh]

I strongly disagree with this. If we're going to raise the age then it has to be across the board. 21 to be tried as an adult, 21 to be drafted, 21 to vote, etc. Disenfranchising legal adults because of possible 20 years* in the future crime (hospitalization for mental health around ~40yo) is very immoral.

* See: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acps.13601 fig 1.

[j-a-a-p]

Smoking must be banned because it is an annoying habit. These people smoke where ever they want, on the street, on a terras while other people are eating, in busy shopping streets. It is hard to understand how screwed up some smokers are. In Belgium they had to make a law to ban smoking in cars if there is a child inside - imagine, what kind of person are you when you do that?! Not to mention pregnant women who smoke.

If people fail to behave at such a basic level, then democracy should jump in and fix it.

[bigyikes]

Yeah. Imagine getting drafted and not being allowed to have a cigarette in the field. Outrageous.

If I’m an adult at 18, let me make adult decisions.

[almostnormal]

> Interesting, the recent tobacco age limit increase in the US from 18 to 21 should help.

New Zealand has recently banned smoking for anyone born before 2009.