Underage smokers fuming over new tobacco law
Dongyoung Won
Just a few weeks ago my best friend and I were carrying our morning coffees to a table outside. We realized we had forgotten to pick up cigarettes. ‘No big deal’ I thought to myself, there’s a liquor store on every corner. So I placed my perfectly poured cappuccino on the table and told my friend I’d be right back.
A few minutes later I returned to our usual table, unusually empty handed.
Apparently, just two months ago California changed its tobacco law. Now the minimum age to purchase any tobacco product is 21-years-old, just like alcohol. As a 20-year-old, still months away from turning 21, I was devastated as well as completely shocked when I was told I had to be 21 to purchase my pink Capri’s.
What about the now underage smokers who were already addicted? Now we have to fish for cigarettes too. That just sounds like an all around inconvenience if you ask me.
My friend and I spent that entire morning agitated, researching the new law.
Contrary to popular belief, this new law extends far beyond just the purchasing of old school cigarettes, it includes e-cigarettes as well. Vaping has also been banned in many public places too.
Another odd part to the new law is that it does not apply to military personal. What the heck. How is that fair?
According to the Director of the Prevention Institute of Oakland Larry Cohen, the biggest drop in tobacco users is expected to be teens between the ages of 15 to 17.
When I read this it made no sense to me. Those kids couldn’t purchase cigarettes in the first place.
Cohen explained that those between the ages of 15 to 17 tend to have friends that are 18 years old purchase tobacco products for them.
If this is true then those between the ages of 18 and 20 surely have 21-year-old friends who have access to tobacco products. So is the problem really going to be resolved with this new law? Or will tobacco products just become more popular due to not being as easily accessible?
In my opinion, smoking cigarettes has become cool again. Everywhere you go there are more and more young people with cancer sticks lit between their lips. Yes, actually lit so no they aren’t attempting to display a metaphor.
Perhaps this new fad has been brought to us by the hipster community or from European exchange students who are studying at Chico State.
Whichever way you chose to look at it, there is no denying that the smoking of cigarettes has become more popular in the last few years among young adults and perhaps even more accepted.
With that being said, if there’s a will there’s a way. Those who really want to get their hands on tobacco products will find a way with or without the new law.
Mina Marjanovic can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter.
CathyB // Sep 9, 2016 at 11:30 pm
I think you are grossly uninformed. More people are not smoking, in fact the numbers of smokers have drastically reduced over the years. As smoking looks “cool”! Does it look cool to be smoking a cancer stick. As you are clearly underage, then there is no excuse for you not to have read about the dangers of smoking, not only to yourself, but other people. Second hand smoke is obnoxious and can be very harmful fo a number of people. Try growing up before you make such stupid statements.
charlie // Sep 9, 2016 at 6:09 pm
Tobacco cigarettes are for sale on every street corner 24/7. They are much easier to get than cloud toys. The state wants kids and poor people to smoke, how else can you tax them?
Cathy Ball // Sep 20, 2016 at 10:21 am
They may be for sale on every street corner but that does not mean people, especially underage people have to buy them! I understand California is one of most anti smoking state yin the USA. Also many schools and colleges are campaining for smoke free grounds. In UK smokers are down to 16.9% so hardly on the increase. People are stopping because they accept they are harmful.
Cathy Ball // Sep 9, 2016 at 4:51 am
Smoking is not becoming more accepted. In US only about 18% people smoke down from well over 24%. Whatever way you look at it, breaking the law is not an “incovenience””as you put it, it is to protect peoples health. If you became an addict before 18 then you are aware of the dangers of smoking, second hand smoke and third hand smoke. Wake up to the fact you are in a minority.