MAIN BODY - OPTION 3 Flashcards
Increasing the legal age to buy cigarettes to 21 from 18 could highly reduce the high smoking rates, especially among young adults. On BMJ, it has been said that
“When the UK increased the legal age for tobacco purchase from 16 to 18 in 2007, there was a fall in youth smoking rates, suggesting that a further increase could replicate this”. (BK)
The evidence here focuses on an estimate, as the previous legal age to buy cigarettes was 16 and later it increased by two years fairly reducing the rates, yet with another increase of three years this could create a major impact on the amount of young adults smoking. Those ages 18 to 20 tend to be one of the target markets within organisations as they are still young and learning, I can acknowledge that those who are young and have just turned the legal age to buy cigarettes are the ones who will most likely be tempted to buy them as they see it as a sense of freedom.
Suggestion?
My final suggestion for tackling the smoking crisis in Scotland is to Increase the legal age to buy cigarettes to 21.
To support this argument, In the Independent newspaper, health correspondent, Alex Matthews-King said
“The legal smoking age should be increased to 21 according to MPs who are calling for a crackdown on tobacco giants and cigarette use in TV as part of efforts to build a smoke-free generation.” (BK)
This evidence also strongly supports the idea of increasing the legal age to purchase cigarettes, the smoking rates in the UK should be brought down to the minimum, with young smokers making up a part of the overall rate, increasing the age means young people will not have access to them. Furthermore, it is also known that those who start smoking at a young age will most likely continue to in the future, so, this increase in the legal age would mean young people could quit habits and also save money on future health problems (BK).
EVALUATION
I am again willing to accept that this option does not guarantee to stop high smoking rates as there is some justified criticism of such a proposal. Due to the fact that a lot of young smokers may have older siblings or parents who allow this, it will not decrease the smoking rates around them as they will have a way to get them if they want. (BK) However, I do believe this option does merit some serious consideration as it will particularly decrease the amount of young smokers there are.
