Week 9 Article #3
1. Cherly Chumley. October 31, 2013. New Yorkers rebel at ‘ridiculous’ new age limit, 21, to buy tobacco. Washington Times
2. Category: Tobacco
3. Level: State (New York)
4. This article concerns:
New York City Council members voted last week to increase the age of purchasing tobacco, which includes electronic cigarettes as well, from age 18 to age 21.
5. This affects individuals/families:
This will highly affect many individuals because smoking cigarettes are really bad us. Once Mayor Bloomberg signs the bill the age to purchase tobacco will increase to 21 and he states: "it will help save another generation from the ill health and shorter life expectancy that comes with smoking."
6. What are your views?
I believe this is a wonderful idea and I agree with Mayor Bloomberg said, it will really help lives because many cigarette smokers start off at a young age and now it will make things a little bit harder for them to start smoking. Smoking is very bad for us and it speeds up you encountering death. This will go into affect after 180days when the mayor signs the bill. Not only is New York City increasing the age limit but so is the state of Massachusetts. We want to help out our teenagers and young adults and allow them to live a healthy long life and I believe this truly will work and I hope to see more states develop this bill!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/31/new-yorkers-rebel-ridiculous-age-limit-21-tobacco/
I think it's a fantastic idea. I don't remember exactly, but I think that at the current legal age of 18, our pre-frontal cortex of our brain is still developing, which impairs young people in some cases from making logical decisions. If people are getting addicted at such a young age it's much harder for them to quit further down the line, because they see it as something they've done for so long, what would be the point in quitting. But also, they've relied on it for so long that they not only have to worry about breaking the addiction, but also the long-standing habit of smoking. Especially if people they know smoke as well, and there's a social aspect to it. They take smoke breaks together, or smoke when they drink, or to ease stress/anxiety. These are all positives to smoking that they might use as excuses for quitting.
ReplyDeleteIf we're able to delay the onset of the addiction, who knows...maybe people won't see it to be as appealing when they're a little older.