What could be done to decrease youth smoking?

Question

What do you think should be done
?

Answer 1

I think it already has decreased quite a bit. My parents' generation smoked because everybody smoked. Now, more people don't than do. I think measures already taken (decreased advertising, decreased "product placement" in movies, public service ads depicting the health and cosmetic drawbacks of smoking, more parental involvement, stricter policing of cigarette sales to minors) are pretty effective. They may not appear to be, because they have not eliminated youth smoking--but they have decreased youth smoking. Continue these practices, increase them, and youth smoking should decrease even more. I don't think we'll ever eliminate it, because it has a rebellious attractiveness, ditto alcohol, pot, etc. But progress has been made, and more can be made.

Answer 2

I don't think this would work but..........
The best way to stop youth smoking, is it make the age limit for buying at 21. Ban the darn things, but heavens forbid, the "Government" might lose that precious revenue. They forget that the tax money they collect on cigarettes, is largely spent on Health Care Because people smoke and second hand smoke.
i believe there are some very good campaigns out there, but, if parents smoke, you can bet that their children will be smokers, because, in fact, they already are. It's a very large Catch 22 question, with no real answer that will work. Some day, they will stop growing it on tobacco farms, it will become unavailable, and only then will there be a real chance a "nipping this one in the BUTT"

Answer 3

How to prevent them buying cigarettes? I see that many cigarette machines in bars in Ireland now only accept tokens, not cash. The tokens are sold by the bar staff, who won't issue them to anyone who is too young to be there. Means they can't just slip in and use the machine anonymously.

I think there is this myth that children and young teenagers don't feel major stress and a lack of control over their lives. Those I know who smoke use it as a way to ignore what they can't change/just have to live with, and their home situation is not good, so I do have sympathy for them. It's why so many people smoked during times of war. Not enough food, low expectations, stress, too many losses. It's not as glamorous as it used to be. I think most are starting to see smoking & war as realistic ER scenarios, not as a chance to live up to heroic images.

Answer 4

By voting out the politicians who allow the tobacco companies to keep going unchecked and without accountability. Why is something that has been known, and proven in the courts to cause cancer been allowed to stay on the market. Is this legalized death. Our Government is allowing our youth to smoke and kill themselves, WHY?

Lets vote in someone who really cares about the people.