Posted on 06/03/2002 8:55:24 AM PDT by ozone1
Access Laws Do Not Lower Rates of Teen Smoking Mon Jun 3,10:29 AM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Laws that prohibit merchants from selling cigarettes to minors have not helped to reduce rates of teenage smoking in the US and should therefore be abandoned, researchers conclude.
Their study found no association between laws that make it difficult for teenagers to buy cigarettes and the prevalence of smoking. There was no difference in rates of teenage smoking between communities with and without such laws, and no association between compliance with the laws and the incidence of smoking among teenagers, according to the report in the June issue of Pediatrics.
The findings indicate that resources to curb smoking among adolescents may be better directed at other types of interventions such as taxes on cigarettes, smoke-free workplaces and homes, and educational efforts on the health effects of secondhand smoke.
"Given the limited resources available for tobacco control, as well as the expense of conducting youth access programs, tobacco control advocates should start redirecting their energies and funds away from youth access and toward other interventions that have proven effectiveness," write Dr. Stanton A. Glantz and Caroline M. Fichtenberg from the University of California, San Francisco.
Over the past several years, all 50 states in the US have implemented youth access laws, which make it illegal to sell cigarettes to teenagers younger than 18. Some states go so far as to criminalize the possession of tobacco by teens.
But while these laws may present obstacles to buying cigarettes, they do not actually influence overall rates of youth smoking, possibly because many teens obtain cigarettes from parents, friends and strangers. What's more, these laws may reinforce the belief that smoking makes kids seem more grown-up, the researchers note.
"As teens find it harder to buy cigarettes they may simply shift to these other sources," they write.
SOURCE: Pediatrics 2002;109:1088-1092.
Riiiiiight, just like making the drinking age 21 will stop underage drinkers.
But consequences should be instituted on the minor purchaser of tobacco. And I would gladly venture to say that a vast majority of minors you see puffing away did not buy their smokes at the local gas station. I would say that they were purchased by someone else for them or stolen from someones parents. Be it their own or a friends. That is why i have also suggested penalties for the possesion and use of tobacco products.
Give all teenagers puffing away in front of the mall a $50 fine and we could wipe out the national debt in a week. Ok, thats a big stretch, i admit. But it would reduce, if not eliminate that regular scene. And how many kids start smoking when a 'friend' or someone in their peer group asks them "want a smoke"? I would gladly put money on it that the number is high, and that the question isnt being asked at a back yard BBQ. It is being asked away from their homes in public places such as the mall, the sidewalk across from school, movie theaters, and other places of public accomidation that teenagers heavily populate.
The author of this "study" is 1000% in favor of any and all kinds of prohibition when it comes to tobacco.
Exactly - it is only illegal to sell them to a minor not a minor purchasing in most jurisdictions.
Pass laws and start fining minors who attempt to purchase cigarettes and minors caught with them in their possesion and it will cause a reduction.
Florida takes it a step further - subesequent offenders are subject to possible loss of their driver's licens.
While another long stretch analogy, say the goal was to reduce teen speeding. Who should be ticketed and punished, the speeding teen, or the guy that sold them the car?
A license to sell tobacco products is required by the State of Delaware. 3 years ago legislation was introduced to also penalize the minor attempting to make the purchase along with the clerk - just like alcohol. The only opponents to it were the anti-smoker groups that claimed it was unfair to punish these young people because they were "addicted and didn't deserve punishment." Another proposal was to make possession an offense - same argument.
Needless to say, in Delaware it is perfectly OK for kids under 18 to smoke. Their parents can't give them the cigarettes or buy them for the kid - but the kid can smoke them.
This makes a whole lot of sense to me - NOT
I know in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and a host of other states, the legislatures enacted the laws that make it illegal to sell tobacco products, or even matches or cigarette lighters, to anyone under 18.
My first response to reading this? No @#%^ Sherlock!!!!
By 19-20-21, The only cool part about smoking is standing outside striking up conversations. Other than that, it's expensive.
I just smoke an occasional cigar myself.
However.................
From the time these kids are in kindergarten they ar being "brainwashes" about the evils of smoking, the evils of the tobacco industry and how to disrespect adults who do choose to smoke.
Sorry - I don't think there is a 10 year old, let alone a 16yo, in this country that is not aware that tobacco is bad and it is illegal for them to try and buy it.
Perhaps ENFORCEMENT of youth access laws might make more of difference.
And when I was 14, 15 it was perfectly legal for me to buy cigarettes, and for anyone to sell them to me.
The kids today are not giving the middle finger to the same authorities we were - it was because our parents were telling us "we couldn't." the authorities today's kids are doing it are the nannyists on the TV and in the schools that are telling them outright lies.
One thing that has not changed with kids, especially teens, they don't want to be treated as stupid by people that truly should know better.
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