IAMWHATIAM,
First off, let me say that we are in agreement. Yes, i have said it before, and i'll say it again. I am a smoker. An aspect of myself I am not happy about might I add. And, I feel that teenagers do it as a way to look cool and rebellious without knowledge of any bodily repercussions it will have. But, I don't think that raising the age is the way to go about doing it. If kids can find access to beer etc, then they are going to be able to find a way to smoke should they so desire to do so if the age is raised. It could be through a friend or a sibling or family member who doesn't care and will buy cigarettes for those under age should they so desire to.
I will say, however, that I never smoked to be a rebel or to look cool. I had crippling depression in high school and at the time knew it was bad for me, but didn't give a flying F*CK about what happened to my body. Naturally that came and went but the smoking stayed.
I will close out by saying that I feel that if for some strange reason the smoking age is raised to 21, people would start comparing it to drinking, another vice that people can start to partake in at that age. I will say, however, that drinking, unlike smoking, is not bad when done in moderation. Smoking on the other hand, well that's bad no matter which way you look at it.
With regards to drinking, yes, moderation is key. I was raised in a household where drinking under 21 was not the forbidden fruit that it is in some. It would not be fair to call them drunkards (since they weren't and aren't.) But, at the same time, myself and my two older brothers were made aware of the dangers of drinking and how to handle it in a responsible fashion when we were in high school. For example, my eldest brother was going to house parties when he was in high school where drinking was going on. It would have been unrealistic for them to ban him from going. So, instead they made him more aware of why drinking and driving is bad and why there should always designated driver. This helped him be more aware of what was going on around him. The same for me and my brothers. When we were in high school, and there was a family or holiday dinner and wine was being served, we were allowed to have a glass along with everyone else. When I was 18 and home I was able to have a beer if I asked permission first. In all honesty, my parents felt (as do I) that it's all well and good that someone can't buy a drink until they are 21. But, if someone is blind to it completely until then, then you're on the road to issues. I feel that when someone is not allowed to be around, or to know the impacts that alcohol has until they are 21 that's when things get messy. Where I live, every so often, there are stories in the local paper of some kid going out on a binder on their 21st birthday and not making it home alive. Something that wouldn't happen if they weren't raised blind to the impacts that drinking has.
EDITED TO CLARIFY FOR NAMO.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
Updated On: 11/6/13 at 10:36 PM
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