Smoking raised to 18

[Flat.tyres]

It would be nice to raise the actual age above 16 butI doubt this will make much difference.

Why I'm not a great beliver in central government nanny state, I do see merit in banning some things such as heroin and I feel the same about tobacco. It has no physical benefit apart from raising taxes.

[Mark]

From BBC News

"I'll just get my mum to go out and get them for me," she says. "She won't mind. I have tried to stop, but I can't. ".

[schmenke]

It's 18 for as long as I remember in the states. ...

Same in Canada.

[rah]

Same in Canada.

Same in most countries I thought. You need photo ID to get them here.

[dime3]

From BBC News

What can you say to that???

[CarlMetro]

Stop pi**ing about with banning it in public places, raising the age limit and banning all motorists from smoking in their own cars and just ban all tobacco products full stop. If this, or any other government is that serious about wanting people to stop smoking then just ban it altogether.

I'm getting sick of all the half measures, if you want something to stop, then stop it straight away, don't keep pussy-footing around.

[Hondo]

Stop pi**ing about with banning it in public places, raising the age limit and banning all motorists from smoking in their own cars and just ban all tobacco products full stop. If this, or any other government is that serious about wanting people to stop smoking then just ban it altogether.

I'm getting sick of all the half measures, if you want something to stop, then stop it straight away, don't keep pussy-footing around.

The UK earned £8.0 billion from tobacco revenue in fiscal year 2005-2006.

Any volunteers to make up that amount of money with a complete ban?

Thats why they don't stop it. First of all, they can't anymore than they can stop drugs or booze.

Second, the halfway measures are to delude you into believing that they are trying to do something about it.

Third, people that make laws smoke too.

[Flat.tyres]

Stop pi**ing about with banning it in public places, raising the age limit and banning all motorists from smoking in their own cars and just ban all tobacco products full stop. If this, or any other government is that serious about wanting people to stop smoking then just ban it altogether.

I'm getting sick of all the half measures, if you want something to stop, then stop it straight away, don't keep pussy-footing around.

Agree. Lets get rid of this killer.

[Dan Eaves Fan]

I didn't know this but apparently the legal age of smoking went to 18 today.

They sneaked that one in didn't they?

I work in a supermarket and have heard nothing else but that since january.

I doubt alot of people will know because they dont read the signs that are put up around shops.

[BDunnell]

Second, the halfway measures are to delude you into believing that they are trying to do something about it.

But they are. There is genuinely a motivation to try and stop people smoking, for obvious reasons. I believe that the reason for not going for an outright ban has nothing to do with the revenue raised from tobacco in the UK, but because any sensible government would realise that this is impossible. Therefore, something is better than nothing.

Third, people that make laws smoke too.

Very true. This won't stop a lot of politicians who smoke wanting to restrict or ban it, though, because they would rather give up too.

As an aside, whenever people start going on about British politicians being 'anti-car', they ought to realise that those same politicians also drive, so can't ever be too anti-car. The truth is that they aren't really.