New York City aims to ban cigarette sales to under 21s

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

I don't see the hypocrisy in tightening overly lax laws and at the same time relaxing overly strict laws.

The hypocrisy is, as Malthus pointed out, the drive to eventually make cigarettes illegal.  People like Bloomberg and Quinn want overly strict laws on cigarettes.  They probably do not support relaxing pot laws, either, though.

[Sheilbh]

Poor kids today. It's difficult to smoke or drink

[HVC]

No booze, no smokes. You guys just don't want anyone under 21 to have fun.

If only the alcohol age being 21 kept kids from puking on my sidewalk and subway platforms.

forbidden fruit leads to excess. Places with a more realistic approach to drinking seem to have less issues. Except the ukers, the just really love to drink to excess. Seems almost cultural at this point. Probably thatchers fault somehow. 


Oh, and Russia. But they're Russians. Practically bottle feed their babies vodka.

[garbon]

I don't see the hypocrisy in tightening overly lax laws and at the same time relaxing overly strict laws.

The hypocrisy is, as Malthus pointed out, the drive to eventually make cigarettes illegal.  People like Bloomberg and Quinn want overly strict laws on cigarettes.  They probably do not support relaxing pot laws, either, though.

That's not really hypocritical then.

Besides, it isn't like places are saying you can smoke weed anywhere you feel like it, are they?

Also, smoking isn't the only way to consume weed - but probably the only way to consume a cigarette. 

[DGuller]

forbidden fruit leads to excess. Places with a more realistic approach to drinking seem to have less issues. Except the ukers, the just really love to drink to excess. Seems almost cultural at this point. Probably thatchers fault somehow. 


Oh, and Russia. But they're Russians. Practically bottle feed their babies vodka.

[HVC]

forbidden fruit leads to excess. Places with a more realistic approach to drinking seem to have less issues. Except the ukers, the just really love to drink to excess. Seems almost cultural at this point. Probably thatchers fault somehow. 


Oh, and Russia. But they're Russians. Practically bottle feed their babies vodka.

tell me I'm lying

[DGuller]

forbidden fruit leads to excess. Places with a more realistic approach to drinking seem to have less issues. Except the ukers, the just really love to drink to excess. Seems almost cultural at this point. Probably thatchers fault somehow. 


Oh, and Russia. But they're Russians. Practically bottle feed their babies vodka.

tell me I'm lying

I personally didn't have a full serving of alcohol until I was 9 or so. 

[Maximus]

You know, I'm trying to get a Freedom Boner about this and be all irritated...but I just can't. It'd be easier if cigarette smoking were a victimless vice, but second hand smoke sux big time.

Indeed, but it makes no sense to just restrict it for minors. It makes much more sense to treat it like the public health hazard it is and forbid it in public.

[garbon]

You know, I'm trying to get a Freedom Boner about this and be all irritated...but I just can't. It'd be easier if cigarette smoking were a victimless vice, but second hand smoke sux big time.

Indeed, but it makes no sense to just restrict it for minors. It makes much more sense to treat it like the public health hazard it is and forbid it in public.

Well I think at this point, only the sidewalks are left in New York. Banned indoors where people work and in parks.

[Ideologue]

I'm for the State.

I say this as I smoke a cigarette.

[Malthus]

Seems pretty obvious that the laws are going to gradually tighten up until cigarette smoking is illegal period.

...and yet marijuana laws in the US are getting increasingly relaxed.

I suspect eventually they will both end up in the same place, eventually - illegal to use in public; the cops will enforce what amounts to a fine if you are annoying someone with it.

Eventually, the state will find a way to tax and regulate sale of both, to the very edge of where taxing/regulating makes smuggling profitable and widespread.

Widespread public disapproval (and legal strictness) makes, and will increasingly make, smoking an unviable addiction. You can enjoy the occasional joint in your off-hours easily enough, but it's really hard to be a smoker like that - most need to smoke periodically all day, and this will become increasingly difficult to do and live a normal lifestyle.

[CountDeMoney]

Widespread public disapproval (and legal strictness) makes, and will increasingly make, smoking an unviable addiction. You can enjoy the occasional joint in your off-hours easily enough, but it's really hard to be a smoker like that - most need to smoke periodically all day, and this will become increasingly difficult to do and live a normal lifestyle.

Oh yeah, you're the modern equivalent of a leper these days.  It's already banned in so many public places here as it is.  The Maryland Senate passed a bill this session banning smoking in your car with child passengers under the age of 8.

[viper37]

Seems pretty obvious that the laws are going to gradually tighten up until cigarette smoking is illegal period.

they've been saying that for 30 years in Canada, you know.  It still hasn't happenned.

[garbon]

Seems pretty obvious that the laws are going to gradually tighten up until cigarette smoking is illegal period.

they've been saying that for 30 years in Canada, you know.  It still hasn't happenned.

Well I can't speak for Canada but we certainly have seen increasingly tight regulations on smoking.

[Malthus]

Seems pretty obvious that the laws are going to gradually tighten up until cigarette smoking is illegal period.

they've been saying that for 30 years in Canada, you know.  It still hasn't happenned.

Thirty years ago, you could smoke pretty well everywhere, and people did. There were ashtrays in offce building elevators. There were smoking sections in restaurants.