wouldn’t it be simpler to ban kids from smoking and to ban people from selling/giving them cigarettes?
It turns out that doesn't work because people just won't do what you want them to do.
So they'll try this, and when it doesn't work, they'll try something else, and that won't work. But it will put a lot of people in jail, tie up a lot of police and court time, and money will get made by most folks, except the ones that really don't want kids smoking.
Welcome to the 21st century. It sucks slightly less than the 20th century so far, but give us time. It's early days.
/johnny
When I was in Germany on business in 2000, I saw kids at a schoolbus stop where there were cigarette vending machines.......
What they need to ban is cars near schools and the filthy two inch tailpipes. Those smokers driving near children are the real problem