As much as I despise cigarettes, the British proposal to increase the legal age for smoking year by year in an attempt to eventually ban them is inane. It will simply create a black market and cause far more damage in the end. This kind of prohibition never works and is beneath stupidity.
@lauren It's an extension of the current situation (under-16s are banned from buying tobacco products; under-18s can't buy alcohol). Note that those under the age bars *can* legally consume those drugs under some/most circumstances (unlike the USA's ridiculous 21+ federal alcohol consumption law).
@cstross It's not at all clear that vaping is much safer, and it often is even more disruptive to the people around the vapers (or at least, equally). The plan is NOT an extension of existing bans. Existing bans treat minors differently than adults. That kind of bright line makes sense. Taxes on products affect everyone equally. I can't find ANY examples of this kind of year by year approach that treats ADULTS one day apart in age differently. It's not going to fly for long.
