21 Years To Majority

[lord999]

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Retailers who sell tobacco products can find resources and information on how to comply with all applicable federal laws and regulations, including T21.

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I just can't wait for the inevitable lawsuit challenging the disingenuous age of majority restriction. I can be tried as an adult at 15, and can't smoke or drink until 21. Which is it? What should be the age of majority where we believe people to make rational decisions. 35 perhaps, the age you may run for President?!

 

[BidingMyTime]

I agree, the discrepancy of ages is ridiculous. In addition to being tried as an adult at age 15 (or lower depending on one's state), one can get licensed to handle a potentially deadly machine (car) at age 16, have sex with anyone they want all sorts of different ages depending on the state they live in, vote for the future of their country at age 18 (granted, whether or not that is meaningful is debatable,) but they can't choose to drink or smoke until 21? The lack of consistency is not logical.

 

[BidingMyTime]

Or, and let's not forget one can make the decision to join the military at age 17, and potentially fight and die for their country at age 18.

 

[projektreverb]

What confuses me is kids can’t buy alcohol or tobacco until 21, but can sign up for the military and vote at 18?

 

[spacecowgirl]

Finally, I can find common ground on an issue with this administration.

 

[owlegrad]

Selling Tobacco Products in Retail Stores

Retailers who sell tobacco products can find resources and information on how to comply with all applicable federal laws and regulations, including T21.

www.fda.gov

I just can't wait for the inevitable lawsuit challenging the disingenuous age of majority restriction. I can be tried as an adult at 15, and can't smoke or drink until 21. Which is it? What should be the age of majority where we believe people to make rational decisions. 35 perhaps, the age you may run for President?!

I mean it makes sense that you can go to war at 18 but not drink until 21, right?

 

[owlegrad]

Well I see I am late to the party with my reply lol

 

[NITRAS]

We as a society like 18 yo to fight for their country. Drinking and smoking aren’t things we as society needs or wants.

Personally, the discrepancy really don’t bother me much. Missing out on beer and booze for three years of my life aren’t detrimental In the least.

 

[lord999]

Until very recently, anyone with a military ID could indulge in legal substance abuse on base when overseas (that has largely changed on facility orders). It's not that I necessarily have an issue with 21, but I don't like the idea that one could be held responsible for adult conduct earlier than when you are an adult.

Personally though, what I really hate about this end of the year law is whether or not enforcement changes and if we as a profession get held responsible for age checks to a more annoying degree. Checking ID's and getting nailed for it anyway through negative customer interactions or overzealous cops was a big pain when I was in practice. Is DEA going to ramp up the prosecution and inspection of this? They've got better things like opioids to do than police underage tobacco, but sweating pharmacists and front-end cashiers gets numbers results much safer than going after cartels or Chinese imports.

 

[Charcoales]

I bet they did it because high school seniors dealing to juniors and below (senior simply walks to gas station at end of block) was so rampant they wanted some type of barrier to it.

 

[spacecowgirl]

I bet they did it because high school seniors dealing to juniors and below (senior simply walks to gas station at end of block) was so rampant they wanted some type of barrier to it.

Yes, this is indeed part of it. Check tobacco21.org for more background information.

Many states and municipalities have implemented this already and the rationale is largely around ENDS vs combustible cigarettes.

Checking ID's and getting nailed for it anyway through negative customer interactions or overzealous cops was a big pain when I was in practice. Is DEA going to ramp up the prosecution and inspection of this? They've got better things like opioids to do than police underage tobacco, but sweating pharmacists and front-end cashiers gets numbers results much safer than going after cartels or Chinese imports.

Is this really such a burden? Most places already check IDs for anyone appearing 35 and under. Those stupid rewards cards and the 1 mile receipts are more work than this.

 

[lord999]

Yes, this is indeed part of it. Check tobacco21.org for more background information.

Many states and municipalities have implemented this already and the rationale is largely around ENDS vs combustible cigarettes.


Is this really such a burden? Most places already check IDs for anyone appearing 35 and under. Those stupid rewards cards and the 1 mile receipts are more work than this.

Yes, I among others ended up getting $20k as a class settlement from Glendale, AZ and something special from Walgreens as I was one of the pharmacists harassed by the Glendale police sting in 2005. Their under 18 kids would be with a cop, would get the pharmacist arrested if they sold, and if not, would report the pharmacist for being rude. My first writeup was refusing to sell to underage and being pissed about it when the plant got the EXA to write me up over customer service issues. Fry's, Circle K, and Walgreens among others went to the AG over this and sued the city for the Catch 22 when they figured it out as a fine shakedown.

 

[mentos]

I didn't know the age for cigarettes was raised to 21. I remember my high school entrance being a smoke screen as soon as the bell rung. Does that mean any high schooler smoking will be arrested?

 

[sadface]

Pretty sure it’s just a citation (like a ticket) not getting arrested.

 

[Emmet2301]

I wonder how this plays out for people in various parts of the country.

I think more people smoke in the South and Midwest. Are they pissed about this new law? I haven't heard anything yet.

 

[LivingMyBestLife]

I mean it makes sense that you can go to war at 18 but not drink until 21, right?

The age to go to war should be 65. Then there would be an end to all wars.

 

[owlegrad]

The age to go to war should be 65. Then there would be an end to all wars.

Ever read Old Man’s War? Great series.

 

[BidingMyTime]

What confuses me is kids can’t buy alcohol or tobacco until 21, but can sign up for the military and vote at 18?

Actually, one can sign a legally binding agree me at age 17 to join the military when they are 18. I think that is the only legally binding agreement a 17 year old can sign.

We as a society like 18 yo to fight for their country. Drinking and smoking aren’t things we as society needs or wants.
Personally, the discrepancy really don’t bother me much. Missing out on beer and booze for three years of my life aren’t detrimental In the least.

It may not be detrimental to you, but it is the principal of it. An adult should have the right to endulge in whatever they want to. It is ridiculous for a country to say, "hey, we would like you to fight and die for us, but no, you can't drink a beer after the firefight if you happen to survive."

Not to mention, this overprotectiveness of the US does not help anyone. Many European countries have far lower (or no!) drinking ages, and they also have far lower rates of alcoholism and problem drinking.

 

[Emmet2301]

Any arguments for keeping the drinking age at what it is?

Wasn't it originally due to impairing brain development in people below age 21?

 

[BidingMyTime]

Any arguments for keeping the drinking age at what it is?
Wasn't it originally due to impairing brain development in people below age 21?

I've not heard that argument. My impression was the drinking age as a misguided attempt to stop drunk driving, but the change from 18 to 21 happened long before I was of drinking age, so I don't really know all the history of it.

 

[LivingMyBestLife]

Ever read Old Man’s War? Great series.

"The characters in Old Man's War have enhanced DNA and nanotechnology, giving them advantages in strength, speed, endurance, and situational awareness. "

The plot seems pretty compelling. I may consider reading it in the future.