Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

[slipstrike0159]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

Lowering the age to 18 being bad because they could buy alcohol for underaged people is no objection, because at 21, people can buy alcohol for underaged people too.

I mean, on those grounds it is worse to add 3 years worth of people who can provide booze to underagers, but if some 16 year olds offered most 21-26 year olds 10 bucks to go buy them beer, you can't tell me they wouldn't do it.

You must realise the association factor though. The fact that there are usually at least one 18 year old in every one of your high school classes plays a big role. Many seniors know other seniors that are still 17 and many more teammates, brothers and sisters, etc. in ages younger than that (who associate constantly because of how much they are grouped together as a school) in which they could provide alcoholic drinks for. At the age of 21 you know a lot less 17 year olds and younger that you would be willing to provied alcohol to.

[GLAMSHOT]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

i strongly believe that no matter how old someone is,
if they want cigarettes or liquor than they will get it,
whether they get someone of age to buy it, or steal it from there parents.
if the age law was lifted, kids may not find it as appealing

[slipstrike0159]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

i strongly believe that no matter how old someone is,
if they want cigarettes or liquor than they will get it,
whether they get someone of age to buy it, or steal it from there parents.
if the age law was lifted, kids may not find it as appealing

According to that logic though, kids can get anything so there shouldnt be an age limit on anything cause it would just make kids want to get it more. By itself, that is a ridiculous statement. I dare you to go to an island and create your own country where even 5 year olds have perfect access to cocaine because they will get it anyway, see how that turns out for you and then come back to report. Logical thinking? I think not.

[Verruckter]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

Lifting the age limit will not be perceived as "They're going to do it anyways" but more as "We don't care anymore".

[devonin]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

According to that logic though, kids can get anything so there shouldnt be an age limit on anything cause it would just make kids want to get it more. By itself, that is a ridiculous statement. I dare you to go to an island and create your own country where even 5 year olds have perfect access to cocaine because they will get it anyway, see how that turns out for you and then come back to report. Logical thinking? I think not.

Removing something forbidding you from getting an object is nowhere near the same thing as providing that object.

"Perfect Access" is a ridiculous sort of concept. The statement you want to use with your cocaine argument is "A society where even 5 year olds can buy cocaine if they have enough money"

I think you'll find that in such a place, very very few 5 year olds have cocaine.

Allowing someone over 18 to buy alcohol doesn't mean magically every 18 year old has a free supply of booze in their hands. Lowering and removing age limits on when you can do things may lead to more people trying things at a younger age, but doesn't guarentee that there will be universal use of that thing in excess.

Look at how many people over 21 don't drink, or drink only rarely. While pretty much everyone tries alcohol in their life, you overestimate how many people drink often and to excess.

[arsonistsgetallthegirls]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

Don't they also kill you if you're caught with weed? Or is that singapore?

Yes, it's Singapore , and you were close, the death penalty is given to those convicted of selling marijuana or possessing either 18 or 20 ounces if i remember correctly, possession results in serious jail time (often life for weights over 14 ounces)

Harsh laws like these are the reason Singapore one of the top 10 safest places in the world (crime wise)

[wolfieluvkyle]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

hello people well i think people should bealoud to drink as im 15 and in my last year of school and everywhere i go either in school or in pubic people my age are drinking and they can get it anyway they want to either by parents or by getting someone else to do it i have had friends die though alcohol abuse so i know how people feel but its their resonsibility to drink safely its their bodys i live int eh uk where the age limit has just gone up to 21 so i know how people feel when they think it should come back down but taking it up also has its good points but it doesn't stop people from getting drunk or stoned i do not smoke but i do drink and its ok when you know your limits so if you are going to drink drink safely and dont be stupid the conqiqences are unspeakable so peace out

[25thhour]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

Drinking and Smoking is a HUGE problem in my school. In my class nearly 10 percent of students show up stoned or drunk. I am only in GRADE 8!
When you walk by the "Smoke pit" Its just disgusting! People are hacking and coughing everywhere. All are from the ages of 12 - 15!

[devonin]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

And that is when the police should round them all up, and charge all their parents with neglect leading to bodily harm.

[Dark Ronin]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

First off let's set the scene. I am an "underage" smoker (no flaming me). I know what it does to me and what else it can do. I know as much as any 18+ smoker. So why is it that that I will have to wait until I am 18 to buy cigarettes?

The main reason is that the prefrontal lobe of the brain isn’t fully developed until one reaches the age of about 21 or so. The prefrontal lobe inhibits the rest of the brain. Our brains still have all the basic desires as those of an animal. The prefrontal lobe is what tells us to stop. We as humans get mad, we may be mad enough to kill someone; our prefrontal lobe allows us to think about it and make the right decision. And so even though you may know all about the dangers of smoking and drinking, your brain might not be developed enough to properly weigh the pros and cons, you might not consider that it could ruin your future or even stop you from even having one at all. People like you who don’t understand this is exactly why the age is so low. They have already compromised and changed it from a more logical age like 21+ to the age of 18. This allows them to more easily hook people, then by the time their brains have fully developed and they see that they made a bad choice, its too late, they are already hooked or just think "Why should I stop now" its a terrible thing, really.

[Master_of_the_Faster]

Re: Smoking and Drinking Ages - Pointless?

Why is it that the smoking age is beneath the drinking age in America? Would it make more sense if both of these ages were set to like 21 instead? (though I don't approve of smoking in most cases)

Edit: Also, in most cases, I really dislike age limits on anything, but at the same time, I find them necessary. For example, I don't think we need restrictions on alcohol, but unfortunate some people don't drink in moderation or use any judgement. With time, I hope there aren't as many restrictions on certain things unless what ever is being restricted harms others (second hand smoke) in which case should be illegal till what ever is harming others ceases to harm others.