Is it illegal or immoral to buy cigarettes for your kids?

Question

I just found out that my thirteen year old daughter started smoking.She told me that most of her friends smoke and she was already hooked and wants me to buy cigarettes for her.My wife and I smoke so we should have seen this coming.My daughter said her friends parents smoke with them and have even been buying cigarettes for them.I just need a few opinions on this.

Answer 1

I'm fairly sure it's both illegal and immoral.

Answer 2

At present, selling tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 is illegal, but proxy purchasing of cigarettes for children is NOT an offence.

By contrast, buying alcohol for under-18s is illegal. Just 100 people have been prosecuted for this offence since 2007.

Answer 3

Strictly legally speaking, yes buying cigarettes or any tobacco for you child is illegal. It is illegal for you child to use, buy, attempt to buy, or even posses any for of tabacco. Your daughter is already starting on a slippery slope that doesnt lead to a positive ending. This is also a very immoral thing to do. Just because your wife and you smoke, doesnt make it okay for her to smoke. She is only 13, she doesnt understand the negative effects that smoking can have on her. By waiting a few more years, maybe she can add another decade onto her lifespan. You should do everything in your power to help her quit. Maybe your entire family should try and quit together. You would have each other for moral support, and your family would be much healthier over the long run.

Answer 4

Just because you smoke, doesn't give your daughter any more right to do so at 13. I would suggest being the "bad person" and telling her no, she can't smoke until she is of legal age with a job to buy her own cigarettes. Then, and ONLY then, can she smoke around you. You and your wife are the adults, who have every right to smoke if you so choose. She is a child, and has no right whatsoever.

And yes, I am a smoker, and would say the exact same thing to my own child. As adults we earned the right to do stupid things, but for a child it is illegal.

Answer 5

Yes. Firstly, smoking is unhealthy for everyone all around, whether it's an adult or child. It amazes me that people are still craving cancer and emphysema, sounds really appetizing to me... not.

It's both illegal and immoral to buy cancer sticks for the kids. They are minors. Why don't the parents go ahead and buy them a round of shots as well, go bar hopping.
It's sad that there is very bad parenting going on in that circle of friends. The parents are not parenting at all, apparently they don't know how.

Answer 6

Since your daughter is under the legal age limit to buy cigarettes, then yes, its illegal to buy them for her. Personally, I think its immoral also, at any age. You're in a tough situation though where you and your wife smoke - you're in a "do as I say, not as I do" situation.

Personally, I would not allow my kids to smoke. I know I can't control all their choices, but I will not allow them to smoke in my presence. At your daughter's age, that would cut out ALOT of time she could smoke.

Have you considered quitting? Because frankly where you and your wife smoke, it will be really hard to control. When I was a teen, a good friend of mine, her parents both smoked. She could smoke away in the basement or anywhere and her parents never smelled the smoke since they smoked themselves. It would be so much healthier for you all if you quit. And if you all quit together, you could support eachother.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I think it is both! It is illegal to buy cigarettes for a child. There is no way i would ever buy my children cigarettes! You are the adult, you know the dangers. Do you value your child's life? Encouraging her to smoke is not the way to go. I just cant see any reason why you would even be considering it! Give her some information, talk to her about the health risks, help her quit!
Maybe you could all quit together?

Answer 8

Smoking causes cancer. Plus, it's against the law for minors to smoke.

Sticking a cigarette in your mouth in front of you children is like telling them your health doesn't matter. Like telling them that is an okay choice to make. But it's not.

You sound like a ten year old. Who gives a **** what her friends are doing. Not getting cancer, not dying, doesn't that fit in WAY ABOVE fitting in? Yeah. Pretty Much.

Don't buy cigerattes for daughter. Don't let her buy cigerattes for herself. Don't let that be an option. Grow a backbone and kick the habit yourself.

Parent you children.

Answer 9

It is both illegal and immoral to do that.....don't encourage her to smoke, and do everything to help her quit. (even if it does make you look like a hypocrite.)

Lay out the facts for her....that even though some smokers can smoke smoke forever without getting cancer, or emphysema there are others who aren't as lucky.

My mom needed to have half of her left lung removed in April because they found a mass. Although it was cancerous, they got it all and she didn't need chemo or anything. She finally has stop smoking after having tried for over 15 years.

Help her to quit NOW while she's just starting...it'll be easier.

Answer 10

Illegal. Most of all immoral. Set a good example for your child by quitting. Or just buy the smokes for her, and you can all enjoy lung cancer together.

Answer 11

Its both!!! If my kids at the age of 13 started to smoke I would do something about it and it would not be going to the store to buy them cigarettes!!

I smoked when i was a teenager still living at my parents house and I smoked in the house (the basement).....My parents would by me cigarettes and I would smoke in front of them aswell....But things were different back then!!