One extreme to the other.
By killahclaire
@killahclaire (3665)
March 17, 2008 12:04pm CST
I have just been to the shops to buy some bits and bobs and realised yet again that when my country does something bad and decides to make it change they just take it too far.
I live in Scotland, which is part of the UK. Here until recently you could buy cigarettes at the age of 16. We have a lot of smokers in our country and we have alot of bad health problems which you could probably all blame on smoking.
I am a smoker and have been since I was 13. I quit for a while but I am back on them. Since the age of 13 I have been getting served cigarettes no problem. In this country ID was not often asked for.
Well recently they decided to bring the smoking age up to 18 and enforce ID.
Well I am 24 and without ID I really struggle now to get a packet of cigarettes sold to me. It is really ridiculous and quite often I have to go back home and get ID.
Now I know many of you will just say, carry ID but that is not what I am complaining about.
The point is the goverment had before not very much control over this and now they have decided to just take it one step too far and I am sure this happens in many other things as well.
It is crazy,
3 people like this
6 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I don't see what you think is 'one step too far'.
If the legal age is 18 to purchase, they need to be able to verify the age of the individual making the purchase. How difficult is that?
If you're not complaining about having to carry your ID (and I can't imagine going anywhere without some identification), then I don't see what the complaint is.
3 people like this
@killahclaire (3665)
•
17 Mar 08
The point is that up until the change a 13 year old could get served no bother. Now a 24 year old is being asked. They really should just have had it right all along.
2 people like this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Ok, then let's 'get it right' once and for all and make them illegal period!
2 people like this
@killahclaire (3665)
•
17 Mar 08
Yes I know I should give up but the plan is to lose weight and then deal with quitting.
One thing at a time to make I suceed at all things.
1 person likes this
@killahclaire (3665)
•
17 Mar 08
Well I am about 2 months in and I haven't started smoking anymore so I think I will do okay.
1 person likes this
@mark17779 (667)
•
17 Mar 08
You might find that you will smoke more if your trying to loose weight. Smoking is often something that is used in times of stress and if your going to be exercising more/eating less your body will feel like crap to start with hence why you may want to smoke more.
2 people like this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
18 Mar 08
The government has acted responsibly and smokers are complaining rather than quit! If your guys would open your eyes you could see the writing on the wall. Smoking is outdated, its not stylish to smoke and pollute the air that everyone has to breathe. Wake up and smell the roses! (sorry your nose isn't working that well!)
2 people like this
@killahclaire (3665)
•
18 Mar 08
I ain't smoking to be fashionable. Do you think I would be that stupid?
I obviously choose to smoke though and I am fully aware of the implications of that.
But my point was how the goverment goes from one extreme to the other. I was just showing this with the smoking thing.
1 person likes this
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
1 Jun 08
I agree with you that as a smoker we have had our rights taken away from us. I have recently moved and when I was looking for a place I noticed that almost all places are now smoke free. I ended up having to rent a house that is no smoking and I have to go outside now to smoke. I am seriously thinking about quitting as it is getting harder and harder to smoke. Most places are smoke free now. I know what you mean about the ID thing as my daughter is 25 years old and she gets asked for her ID everytime she buys a pack. I told her to take it as a complaiment since she is over the 24 years old age and still looks younger.
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
18 Mar 08
The government is only doing this because it makes it look like they care, when we all know they don't. The reason you're getting asked for id is because shops are worried about getting fined and are being too strict about it.
I smoked at 13 but I don't think it is a good idea for children to smoke so I'm glad they are more stringent now, although a lot of children were probably buying them for their parents.
1 person likes this
@MsEddie86 (234)
• United States
17 Mar 08
yeah i understand how u feel our drinking age is 21 here like it prob is there but i jus dont understand why we cant jus tell them our birthday and be done with it cuz off of a normal relflex everyone tells the truth unless they have practiced at home but i feel your irritant about that its bananas
1 person likes this
