New Zealand plans to make it illegal for kids to buy cigarettes – for life

Post by errcorrectcode » Thu, Dec 09, 2021, 4:28 PM UTC

MayeulC wrote: post #25

zamalek wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I fully support the spirit of this legislation, because I'm a recovered nicotine addict and I wish I had never been granted access to nicotine when I first experimented with it. > Some people will never receive the access in the first place This simply isn't true. People will purchase nicotine from older people, while that's still possible, and then there will be a blossoming bootleg nicotine market. We've seen prohi…

I agree that tobacco access will drip down over to the younger generations, however, should a decent percentage of stores or users comply with this: 1. Market will shrink, making tobacco more difficult to obtain for current users and suppliers 2. Population will age, and it will become harder and harder for new generations to obtain access. 3. At some point, the policy might be considered excessive and abolished. How…

Post by kelseyfrog » Thu, Dec 09, 2021, 4:29 PM UTC

qball wrote: post #19

dougmwne wrote: post #5

Sidestepping questions of personal freedom, I think the method here is interesting. No one will have their access to buy cigarettes taken away. Some people will never receive the access in the first place. It’s easier to not grant access than to grant it, then take it away. I wonder if this could have other legal applications.

>I wonder if this could have other legal applications. Not in any country that believes in equality before the law; the concept is that you're not allowed to create 2 classes of citizens, which is what this law effectively does. Not that the US is at all perfect in this regard, and nearly every state establishes some form of this, but effectively making a group of citizens permanent children should be troubling to an…

Post by r00fus » Thu, Dec 09, 2021, 4:29 PM UTC

LanceH wrote: post #20

beardyw wrote: post #9

I fully support this, but sadly there will be kids to whom possession and the smoking of cigarettes will be even more a sign of the utmost coolness. And, as I understand it there will be a time when a 35 year old can buy cigarettes but a 34 year old can't. That's going to be interesting.

I can't support any legislation that so blatantly discriminates against a whole class of people. People should be treated equally in the eyes of the law.

Post by cies » Thu, Dec 09, 2021, 4:30 PM UTC

Post by BayAreaEscapee » Thu, Dec 09, 2021, 4:31 PM UTC

gadflyinyoureye wrote: post #28

beardyw wrote: post #9

I fully support this, but sadly there will be kids to whom possession and the smoking of cigarettes will be even more a sign of the utmost coolness. And, as I understand it there will be a time when a 35 year old can buy cigarettes but a 34 year old can't. That's going to be interesting.

Here’s the problem with tobacco. It becomes a public expense when the community has to pay the health bill. The same arguments that people who refuse COVID vaccines should be cut off from the community (jobs, commerce, etc) applies to tobacco. Tobacco costs lives and can inflict damage on those not personally using.