they fell Hook, Line, and Sinker!
When I contemplate this reform, I knew exactly what the implications were. I wasn't around to witness it, but when the drinking age rose to 21, a phenomena occurred -- people began to purposely drink under age because it was fun to be rebellious! What is the difference here? Nothing. Kids already smoke from a very early age. New Yorker kids have a something to poke fun at now, and will purposely smoke just to spite the new reform. This has nothing to do with "maturity", being able to "vote and fight in wars" at eighteen, etc...although, that does make a valid point.
Who has to gain from this?
I'm far from a conspiracy theorist, but the only entity I feel can really gain from this is the tobacco industry itself. Tobacco will sell, there's no doubt about it. But now, more money will be pouring in from rebellious youths (from whichever way they'll indirectly get their cigs) to line the pockets of tobacco corporations. Sure, from a distance, this reform looks like an affront to the industry, but with all the cash they have, this is nothing to them. Tobacco, like anything else addictive like beer, aspirin (yes, think about it), and gasoline, will continue to make big C.E.Os prosper and an event like this could only boost their short-term (and most likely, their long term) gains.
You want reform, NY?
Stop enforcing age-restraining laws and whatnot, and get to the root of the problem -- lack of education. If you really feel it's necessary to make it harder for a product to be bought, on your concern for your people's health, educate the people about the risk of smoking. Make anti-smoking propaganda: tv commercials, online ads, posters, the works. Tobacco companies did the same to forward their agenda, and in a free economy, you're free to fight back on their turf.
Making laws to stop people from doing something? *sigh* please... that only works when everyone's already not doing it haha
Your solution to the problem is perfectly accurate in my opinion. There is no excuse for people not being responsible for themselves and making their own decision. And education is the cause of that.
ReplyDeleteHey Steven! I disagree with you on the idea that as soon as this legislation goes into effect in 7 months that there will suddenly be a huge group of youth trying to get their hands on the contraband cigs. Most of the people I know that smoke started smoking long before they were 18 and could legally buy cigarettes. Most of the people I know who don't smoke wouldn't start suddenly just to challenge some new law. I agree with you and Nate about education though. That's the only real way to let people know about what they're doing to their bodies when they smoke and curb the market for tobacco.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea! One thought that I had that started in my head from a line in one of the articles...are people between the ages of 18-21 going to stockpile tobacco products? I personally don't think so, because I would like to think that they will just cross this bridge when it comes time and they will just find a way around the law.
ReplyDeleteThe cynic in me says, yes, New Yorkers under 21 can drive--and they can drive to New Jersey or to upstate New York to buy their smokes now! Of course, the sick joke here is that many people in NYC don't drive, so they would have to take a long train ride.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say that personal experience makes me disagree with you on two accounts. The first account is that, I was once an 18 year old who had just moved to New York. Yes, I already had tried cigarettes at that point, but I was not necessarily a regular smoker. Being able to walk outside after class and buy cigarettes was a HUGE FACTOR in me making the transition from occasional smoker to regular smoker. I'm sure that for many it will have a similar effect, although some will be able to get around the law. Not all will, though, and not at all times.
The second is that, as someone who was once 18-20, and who spends a lot of time with this demographic because of my job, I can attest that these years are a time of great development. There is a much bigger difference between an 18 year old and a 21 year old than there is between a 21 year old and a 30 year old. If you disagree when you are 21, you can tell me. I should be around, still. It will be an experiment.
In any case, this is not to say that I support the law, but I think these are the factors at work in the proponents' thinking.