New smoking ban for anyone born after 2009

[Volbeat]

Hey all, just wondering what people's thoughts are on the smoking ban that will come into force which mean anyone born after 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes.

My opinion is that it will be good for public health in general and I say this as a smoker. But what about all the tax etc generated from cigarette and vape sales?

Apologies if this is already being discussed, I've not seen it anywhere on here yet.

They’re not prohibited completely. Anyone currently over 15 can smoke themselves to death perfectly legally for as long as they like. Those under 15 just can’t buy them but would be able to get them easily enough if they are desperate. And whoever buys them on their behalf would be paying the tax.

@Supersoakers I agree with you. Not sure if it makes a difference, but I posted all three of the previous comments, not just the last one. I guess I was thinking of the scenario where you've made it illegal for them to buy the cigarettes themselves, it should also be illegal for anyone else to supply them. So they then buy blackmarket cigarettes which potentially are even more harmful. There will always be ways and means to circumvent the law, so I accept all you can do is make as difficult and socially unacceptable as possible.

I don't think you can say that every smoker "regrets" smoking. There are so many ways to give up now. I hear champix works wonders. There is nothing stopping me or any other smoker going to their GP and asking for it. But I don't want to.

Partially because I do enjoy smoking and partially because I need "something". If my life circumstances were different, maybe I would feel differently. But if cigarettes and alcohol were taken away from me tomorrow, I can basically guarantee I would turn to drugs. Because I can't cope without something that makes me feel more ok. And there is nothing out there, no services or therapy that is available to help that. Not for the core issues rather than just the symptoms.

So you shut down all legal routes for people like me and what do we do? We won't just give up all bad things and be good. We'll find something else.

This law will stop kids who would have stopped in their own time anyway, if they even started. It won't tackle the core group of people that need something as a coping mechanism. They will turn to alcohol or drugs as I suspect black market cigarettes will be more expensive than either of those. Which yes might be pleasing to those who want to see smoking disappear but will bring more social issues in the long run.

Its also the health of the individal.

Would you legalise crack and heroin if bodily autonomy is so important?

I'm passionately anti-smoking, partly because I'm asthmatic, and other people's smoke causes me misery, at bus stops and the like. Partly because too many of my older family members have lost their lives, or have severely compromised health as a result of it.
To be honest, on a personal level, I'd love to see it banned.
However, your post made me think. I've also got mental health issues, and find life very difficult at times. I know I couldn't cope without tea or baths! I also love sugary foods too much (not an addiction, I don't have an addictive personality) so, I'm not unsympathetic to what you have written.
What could society do to help you? Or what additional support do you think you'd need to help you give up without turning to something even worse like drugs? Or would you be happy to just never smoke in public and only in your own space? I'd like to see it banned in all public places. I'd also like smoking in front of children and babies to be illegal. But, if people like yourself do it in the privacy of your own home, in a way that doesn't affect anyone else, then, I guess that's a compromise I'd settle with.
I appreciate I'm very fortunate never to have smoked. I think I can be a bit judgemental about it, as I simply don't understand it. But, your post made me realise I'm wrong to judge, as I can't know the circumstances. So, I thank you for that 😊

@EmpressSoleil I do wonder about this and I get your perspective. Just curious - Is there any part of you that thinks if my teen brain could have got to a certain age without trying any of these things it might have developed its own resilience mechanism?

My own coping mechanism was food (or lack of it - terribly unhealthy) and exercise (actually this has been fantastic across my lifetime), so I think you are right - the brain will always seek something, whatever is available. I do have sympathy with the argument that banning everything, then leads to unregulated markets which are likely to be even worse. It's a delicate balance.

You both raise interesting points. The problem is you cannot remove everything harmful from teens. When I was at school, there were kids who were sniffing glue and lighter gas. Both actually far more dangerous than smoking imo. And of course there will always be plenty of drug dealers around willing to sell to teens.

I had a bad upbringing, which led me to make poor decisions in my teens and early 20’s, which then impacted the years that followed. Throw in a couple of traumatic events as an adult and it’s been hard. Things could have been worse. The people I hung around with at 18/19 were leading me down a very dark path. But I have somewhat made a success of my life. But yes I still smoke.

Problem is, I can’t go back and undo/redo anything. I’m not actively suicidal but I don’t really care what happens to me. I’m already on 2 lots of anti depressants. Which took me from feeling actively suicidal to how I feel now. Counselling didn’t help. What I needed was to have made better decisions when I was younger! I’m in my 50s now so realistically, there are only limited changes that can be made. I don’t really dwell on it and try to make the best of things, but I just can’t find the joy in a cup of tea and a walk, that I can in a glass of wine and a couple of cigarettes!

This is why I feel strongly about better interventions and mental health support for young people. That’s when it really makes a difference. Stopping teens ever buying cigarettes might be popular, but doesn’t tackle any of the real issues.

Thank you for sharing. I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time, and I was actually quite moved by what you wrote. I've been humbled, as, as mentioned, I can be very judgemental about smoking, which I acknowledge is wrong, and I apologise for it.
Though I disagree with your smoking habit (no sense in me pretending otherwise) and I do personally think the proposed legislation is overall a good thing, I do agree with some of the other stuff you said. I also feel really strongly about better mental health services for the young. For everyone in fact, but especially the young.
I don't feel it's too late for you at 50 though. Still lots of life; and where there's life there's hope.
I really wish you well going forward. You take care

Thank you. I really appreciate your kind words. 😊

@EmpressSoleil That post made me a bit sad, but I can see what you mean though. Sending hugs 🌷

I'm 38 and have smoked for over 20 years. I have a step daughter that is 18, and I work in a school with lots of young ta's and I have a huge family. None, and I mean none of them smoke. Most of the time I'm the only smoker in the room. Smoking for the younger generation isn't cool, and is considered vile. Alot of them don't really drink that much either, pubs and clubs are to expensive and also uninteresting. The main issue is drugs. Weed, cocaine, ketamine etc. They're all readily available and can be dropped off to your door no ID needed, no questions asked. The younger generation couldn't buy cigs at 16 like I could, or get drunk for a fiver like I could, so they've turned to drugs and no one is doing anything about it. I can't see anyone born after 2009 caring about cigarettes at all.

Agree with @Jensal to even see someone smoking is so rare. One thing I've also noticed is people don't drink anymore, they do drugs and older people do cocaine. It seems really common. In my day, it was cigarettes and booze. We've taken so long to get to these issues, that people have avoided past it

*evolved! Everyone that I used to know who smokes now vapes with the exception of my friends mother who is 70+