This law always felt weird to me, the idea that one adult would be legally allowed to smoke cigarettes, but another adult a day younger would be unable to.

[–] cloventt 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They would be unable to buy cigarettes, there would be no law against smoking them. That’s an important difference.

So how would you propose we end the sale of tobacco?

[–] Ilovethebomb 3 points 1 year ago

Tax it more, and make it available for sale only in specialist retailers, would be a great way to dramatically decrease the amount sold.

I don't think ending the sale altogether is worthwhile actually, this will merely create a black market for the product.

[–] liv 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Really? It was a law I thought of myself as a kid because it just seemed logical and makes way more sense than sudden prohibition.

So when it became law I was pleased, because I don't see smoking as a genuine choice for addicts. I used to live next to someone who was literally dying of emphysemia and she couldn't give up smoking, and her self-hate and despair made a big impression on me.

another adult a day younger

It's less stark but health changes always have an arbitrary cut off, there is always a last person to get/first person to not get. E.g last person to get old style knee replacement, first person to get new style.