ENG 1013: Why the Tobacco Purchase Age Should Not Be Raised to 21

This essay, written for an English Composition 1 course, argues against raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21. The author contends that individuals who are considered adults by law, able to vote, serve in the military, and enter into contracts, should also have the right to purchase tobacco. The essay highlights the inconsistencies of restricting tobacco purchases while allowing alcohol consumption and emphasizes the potential for illegal activities, such as using fake IDs, if the age limit is raised. It also discusses the ineffectiveness of existing laws in preventing underage smoking and the potential negative impacts of raising the age, such as driving sales underground. The author supports the argument with references to various sources, including statistics on smoking habits and the views of different organizations and government bodies. The essay concludes that increasing the age limit is not the appropriate solution and suggests alternative approaches such as education and counseling.

Running head: ENGLISH COMPOSITION
ENGLISH COMPOSITION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author notes

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Why the age to buy tobacco should not be raised to 21
Some of the States government has taken the decision to increase the age bar for buying
tobacco products. Government has fixed eighteen as the age of adulthood; there is no point in
setting the age bar to 21 for merely buying tobacco products. The responsibility of adulthood and
buying tobacco products cannot be seen as two different aspects. Different age groups are using
tobacco and smoke as their regular habits (About Us – Counter Tobacco). The laws of The
United states are changing gradually. Purchasing of tobacco in many states has decided between
18 to 19 age group. But the legislators are trying to change this process. They are trying to set
age group to 21 as the same age of taking alcohol. Therefore, it is not as appropriate point of
view. Why with the age groups are unable to go gas station for purchasing cigarette, where every
people are getting rights for votes and marked as an adult (theatlantic.com). At that point of
view, it should not set to 21 from 18 for the purchasing of tobacco products.
After celebrating 18th birthday, a person represents himself or herself as an adult. It has
happened in the traditional way. With this that person is able to get license and get to be enrolled
for being selected in services as per national emergence, but that man who recently stepped on
the 18th unable to purchase tobacco products. There are many examples of young adult people
who are going just into work without stepping college, do physical demanding jobs. It is seen
that those people are highly addicted by nicotine, tobacco or tobacco products
(theconversation.com). But the new problem arises with new laws. The laws say those person
cannot go to buy tobacco products themselves. They have to reach to the age and after that, they
can but those products. As a result, those people are doing some illegal jobs. They are purchasing

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those products with fake ID. Thus, there is no means to set a particular age group of purchasing
products. Like United States there are many country who are trying to set same things on the
purchasing tobacco products.
After having some research, the Tasmanian Government has set the age level to 21 for
purchasing tobacco products legally. On the other side, California also has decided to increase
the age level to 21. Tasmanian is marked as a highest smoker country, where huge numbers of
people are addicted by tobacco and nicotine. In that country, few people start their smoking
habits at the age of 25 (heartland.org). But nobody has argued to stop that plan of changing age
level to 21. Juvenile smoking suppression acts has decided to set this types of acts at the earlier
time (tobaccofreekids.org). But these laws unable to stop the retailers to selling tobacco to people
under 18 years old. The ratio tells that this laws unable to stop 5.1% people to smoke. The
strange fact reflects by national survey that the people 12-17 years old are smoking in regular
basis and badly addicted with nicotine and tobacco. These low aged people are asking to older
aged people to purchase those products for them. Numerous kids know that smoking is one of
childish play method. Therefore, those kids are smoking regularly.
On the other hand, A Tasmanian Small Business Council thinks that selling tobacco is the
legal process. With this, in rural areas and other places this small business is continuing. With
this, those people are getting their small incomes for living. But at same side, the system tries to
save children from these dangerous habits. They provided notices for that small shops and stalls
not to sell tobacco for children (latimes.com). But the retailers know that the efforts are useless.
Those retailers try to continue selling tobaccos for the future teenager. Heath policies are trying

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to save children from this dangerous situation. They think increasing age level would a
significant way for protecting health of youths and children. As per general report, 90 % of
smokers have started smoking at their early age of 18. There is few people who has started
smoking at the age of after 21 or 25.
Consumption of alcohol is dangerous as the consumption of tobacco. As per report, the
number of alcohol-addicted people is more that tobacco addicted people. There are various
examples of people, who are dying regularly for high consummating alcohol. National research
centre reflects that in the United States, the alcohol-addicted patients are admitted with huge
number, more than tobacco addicted people (urmc.rochester.edu). Those people are suffering
from liver disease. There are huge numbers of people who are dying day by day from this liver
disease. It is also seen that people who are under 18 are badly addicted with alcohol. Those under
aged people are going to pubs, nightclubs and other for the consumptions of alcohol, but there is
no any kind of laws for stop those people to drink at their under age. Besides this, there are no
bounds or legal attempt on the selling methods for save under aged people and youths. People
are taking alcohol as their style statement.
It is also reflected that in families every person has taken this habit as their simple habits
in life. Kids are not different from them. They always feel free with the time of taking drink of
their parents. Students are also getting addicted with this drinking habit. On the other hand,
smokers are also badly affected for smoking habits. E-cigarette is not a safe cigarette. It contains
many dangerous types of equipment, which are not good for health (lung.org). The vapors of this
tobacco product are the cause of cancers and lung disease and injury of hands and faces. Vapors

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of these products can travel in the deep of lungs and affect on cells and tissues. Heart disease
also may increase with the vapors of these tobacco products. The ratio of dying people for
having tobacco addicted is not less than those people who are addicted by the alcohol and drugs.
The government for the increasing sells age to 21 reflects few reasons. Numerous people
have started their smoking habits before the age of 18. Aged 18-19 are defined as younger kids,
who are relying friends and classmates for purchasing tobacco products to them. They are unable
to buy any tobacco products in high schools. Increasing the sells age group may help to counter
alcohol habits and tobacco industries. With this, industries, which are targeting young people, are
unable to attract youth for having smoke. As per report of National Academy of Medicine, 12
times reduce the habits of smoking among teenagers and 10 times for kids’ death. Apart from,
smoking will be reducing 25 percent of the age of 15-17 and 15 percent for 18-20 (What Is The
Real Cost? - Smoking And Tobacco Facts). The average of dying people in smoking also will
reduce in the next few years. Apart from this, with some training and social work it is possible to
decrease the level of smokers around the world. There are 16 states who are already applying this
law for the increase of smoking age. But at the same time, the government of these states must
stop to sell those tobacco products (Lindsey et al.). Like alcohol, the government should prohibit
these products. Therefore, the young generation can be safe for future. As a result, children will
unable for purchasing tobacco for playing.
The diseases like liver cancer, heart blocking and injuries in hands and mouth will be
reduced. Apart from this, with regular counseling with doctors will be another way for getting
solution from this bad situation. Doctors can deliver the positive and negative results of these bad

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habits. They can also provide the appropriate way for the better future of young generation.
Families should take the first step towards their kids. They have to take care about their entire
life system (lung.org). They have to look after their habits and also controlling themselves for
smoking in front of their kids. Therefore, they can get healthy environment without smoking.
Above all discussion has reflected the clear picture on the issues of purchasing tobacco
and tobacco products at the age of 18. It is not acceptable that there should have to set the age
group 18 to 21. Apart from this, where at the age of 18, people are able to take the identity as an
adult; it is not mean to wait for purchasing tobacco products to 21. People are taking tobacco in
their whole life. Besides this, people are habituate and addicted for in taking tobacco. Setting of
this age level allows people to do illegal jobs like present fake ID. The strange thing is that there
is no law to set the age to 21 for taking alcohol, which is one of the dangerous aspects for entire
population. But at the time of purchasing tobacco there are various laws. Thus, it should not to
be acceptable for all 18th age group people. States should not increase the age level of purchasing
tobacco. For that, the Government has to take other steps for cure the wound that is made by the
cause of smoking. With some strong and efficient steps, it is possible to keep away young
generation from tobacco and tobacco products. Increasing the age level is not the proper solution
of issues. It may the cause of bad and unexpected result.

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References
"About Us – Counter Tobacco". Countertobacco.Org, 2020, https://countertobacco.org/about-
us/.
"Home". Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids, 2020, https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/.
"Op-Ed: Why A 'Smoking Age' Of 21 Is A Bad Idea". Los Angeles Times, 2020,
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0313-males-teen-smoking-20160313-
story.html.
"Raising The Age To Buy Tobacco: Does It Really Make A Difference?". Urmc.Rochester.Edu,
2020, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cancer-institute/newsroom/dialogue-blog/july-
2019-1/raising-the-age-to-buy-tobacco-does-it-really-make.aspx.
"States Should Not Increase Tobacco Use Age To 21". The Heartland Institute, 2020,
https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/states-should-not-increase-tobacco-use-
age-to-21.
"Tobacco 21 Laws: Raising The Minimum Sales Age For All Tobacco Products To 21".
American Lung Association, 2020,
https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/tobacco/cessation-and-prevention/tobacco-21-
laws.html.
"What Is The Real Cost? - Smoking And Tobacco Facts". Therealcost.Betobaccofree.Hhs.Gov,
2020, https://therealcost.betobaccofree.hhs.gov/#!.

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"When Is A Smoker An Adult? Why We Shouldn't Raise The Legal Smoking Age To 21". The
Conversation, 2020, http://theconversation.com/when-is-a-smoker-an-adult-why-we-
shouldnt-raise-the-legal-smoking-age-to-21-56985.
Levenson, Eric. "Raising The Smoking Age To 21 Is Pointless". The Atlantic, 2020,
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/11/raising-smoking-age-21-
pointless/355497/.
Stroud, Lindsey et al. "States Should Not Increase Tobacco Use Age To 21 – Insidesources".
Insidesources, 2020, https://www.insidesources.com/states-should-not-increase-tobacco-
use-age-to-21/.