What should be the legal age for drinking and smoking?

Question

should there be requirements before people can do these things, or should they be allowed to do it since they are going to find a way to do it anyway?

Answer 1

I have to say that it pains me to see really young kids drinking, (sometimes until they're passed-out) and smoking, but drinking and smoking age should be 18, what's the point of having people who can votoe for presidents not being considered mature enough to drink or smoke, unless of course politics are less mature a choice than drinking or smoking.

Furthermore, alcohol and especially tobacco companies really should be forced to fund goverment alcohol and tobacco awareness. Cigarettes are worse filth than alcohol, given the amount of toxins that are acutally used in production.

Anyway, a high drinking and smoking age is nothing but a stupid puritain reaction, never helps, simply ends-up with kids getting it from other sources. What's more importatnt is providing children with a society they can find a place to engage their creative or prodicutive drives, instead of having to rely on drugs to make their lives interesting.

You can blame that on a retarded corporate society, these "people" would make a buck off of you if it killed you without blinking twice, and then they'd blame it on you for not using your brains.

Answer 2

There is no legal age to smoke by law just to buy.And for drinking the legal age is anywhere between 18 and 21 all depends in where you are.It is hard to determine what the legal age should be as some mature and are responsible more then others.Asking or even determining what the legal age should be on anything is hard.It is okay for "children" to have "babies.It is ok to get a job and even move out of your parents at 16.By law you are considered an adultt at 18 and to take on the world.Alot of teens drink under age and keep ot secret and they seem to be the ones that are "playing "it "safe",you do hear of some getting drunk and stupid but hey you also have grown men /women drinking and do stupid things and sometimes worse then the teens.You even see teens enjoying while they are hiding it from everyone and when they are the legal age to drink it does not seem as exciting anymore.It goes with cigarettes also you have kids/teens smoking behind backs but some parents also alow it as we all know they will find away and it doesn't matter if they have permission or not,but would you want them sneaking and possibly burning something down or have it in the open so they are free to smoke in "safer " places.
Alot of ppl are againist smoking more then drinking and both can harm.Smoking...? you can get cancer and die.
you can get cancer from many of other things also everyone has the cancer cells in their bodies it just takes something to open them up. if you are going to got it you will and not necesaarily from cigarettes/2nd hand smoke.It is not healthy alot say but what is now adays with everything put in food and drinks now adays.
Could it be that there is no determination on what causes cancer and the only thing that can be thought of is cigarettes/smoke cause no one has a better answer.
It could be the same as ppl believing that the government found a cure for cancer but making to much money off the research they do not want to give it up.
Philosify seeing is believeing...believeing is seeing,hearing is believeing...believeing is hearing.
There is alot to think about when it comes to questions such as this one

Answer 3

The legal age for drinking should stay 21 and smoking 18. We all know kids feel the urge to be older than they are, but I do believe that is becausee they truly dont grasp the concept of the porblems that are associated with making grown up decisions while young. It is basically a trial and error thing, and unfortunately the earlier they begin using, the more likely they will develop life long problems.

In the end, it is going to be up to the individual's choice. I dont think that saying it is ok to do it is alright, but rather they should be informed about the possible problems. And after that it is up to them.

Answer 4

I think that legalizing something just because people will do it anyway is not a very good reason to legalize it.

As long as we're changing things, how about keeping the drinking age at 21 and CRIMINALIZING smoking?

Answer 5

A lot of the problems the U.S. has concerning drinking and smoking is derived from strict laws. Countries that have no legal age for smoking and drinking lack the stigma that comes with both of these vices and thus have fewer cases of alcohol poisoning. If the U.S. didn't have these laws and kids were brought up in an environment where drinking and smoking weren't considered "cool" but just a part of culture, it would be less of a big deal.
Life is all about choices. I know the older generations think kids today are uneducated about the dangers of smoking and drinking---and sex for that matter, but in reality they are much more knowledgeable about such subjects than most adults. The reason we are seeing younger and younger kids picking up cigarettes and beer and condoms is because they are forced to grow up faster with all the media glamorizing this lifestyle *cough* Paris Hilton*cough* While alarming, I think as long as people are educated about their actions and willing to accept the consequences I don't see any reason to try and prevent them.
What really irks me is seeing how people treat smokers these days. Society has ostracized them to the dark alleys to indulge themselves while completely ignoring the fact that they pay taxes for their vice and support our economy, farmers, and many businesses, which in turn help out the entire country. Smokers know cigarettes cause cancer, it says so on the box, but they choose to do it anyway and their choice should be respected. I'm appalled by how many people think it is their responsibility to publically heckle smokers when they would never think to do the same to an obese person. Obesity has replaced smoking as the number one preventable cause of death and causes more health risks than smoking.
To those of you saying to outlaw smoking, you obviously don't understand the social and economic impact of such actions. Bans on cigarettes would not only hurt our economy but cause an increase in crime. People will continue to smoke, but the way the get their cigarettes will boost smuggling and gangs causing millions of dollars in taxes to pay for police forces and prisons.

Answer 6

21 should be the legal age for both smoking and drinking. yeah they find a way but its not the same drinking when your 18 than when you turn 21 its just better.

Answer 7

I think 21 is the best age for those things to become legal (or thereabouts), as by that age most people are fully developed. At 18, young bodies are still growing and maturing, so it is foolhardy to allow smoking or drinking at those ages.

Answer 8

There should be legal ramifications for some ages, what would you think if you say a six year old smoking Marlboros? But I think the age shoud be 18. I think it is unfair that a person is enough of an adult to be drafted to fight and die for their country at 18, but can't take a shot of rum before they leave for boot camp.

Answer 9

I think at least 18, for smoking. As far as drinking goes, 21...but I almost wonder if there would be such a big problem with it if it wasn't illegal. It seems to me that the fact that it is makes it "cool". Anyway like I said, I just wonder, but the fact is it’s a problem that probably needs enforcement.

Answer 10

drinking 18, smoking 30