Hawaii May Increase Smoking Age To 100

[brian64]

Nothing surprises me anymore.

Nanny State Hawaii May Increase Smoking Age To 100
The new bill, HB 1509, demands that the smoking age go up to 30 in 2020, 40 in 2021, 50 in 2022, and 60 in 2023. The last jump will take place in 2024 when people would need to be 100 years old to buy cigarettes.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-06/nanny-state-hawaii-may-increase-smoking-age-100

 

[ashdigger]

In other breaking news ..... smoking pot will be legal at age 18.

 

[brian64]

No one under 100 should be allowed to introduce legislation.

 

[haparnold]

For those interested in the actual text of the bill:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2019/bills/HB1509_.HTM

 

[Chasing Embers]

Saw that here earlier this morning. Still shaking my head.
http://fortune.com/2019/02/05/hawaii-smoking-age-100/

 

[olkofri]

Smokers should boycott the state by not vacationing there.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

There's no limitation on ignorance.

 

[wolflarsen]

Does not include pipe tobacco.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Does not include pipe tobacco.

From Hap's link.

Includes a [cigarette,] cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, or an electronic smoking device

 

[davek]

"Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to ban the sale of cigarettes in the State by gradually increasing the minimum age to purchase cigarettes, but not other tobacco products or electronic smoking devices, over a period of five years."

 

[workman]

It's only about cigarettes.

 

[mikethompson]

Sounds like another boon for fake ID's!

 

[haparnold]

I wonder if people in Hawaii are cellaring Marlboros now :?:

 

[davet]

Ridiculous.... oh yeah IBTL

 

[rmpeeps]

Can you say, “Black market for seniors”?

 

[brian64]

Does not include pipe tobacco.

If it doesn't, it will when people start rolling cigarettes with it. Anyway, it's naive to think that these people aren't after all tobacco. I'm sure the clown who introduced this bill is at least smart enough to realize the only way he has any chance at all of it passing is to target only cigarettes initially. I also wonder how large the effect would be on cigar and pipe tobacco production and distribution if cigarettes disappeared.

Sounds like another boon for fake ID's!

LOL ... yeah I thought about that too. I could just see people trying to pass for 100. It gets harder and harder to tell the difference between satire and reality every day.

 

[mau1]

I can see it now. Middle aged men and women driving their parents to the corner store, pulling out the walkers, handing them the $50 it costs to buy a pack of ciggies, and sending them in to make the purchase.

 

[yaddy306]

The legislature further finds that while other combustible tobacco products such as cigars are also harmful, smoke from these products are usually not inhaled and they are therefore less harmful than cigarettes.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to ban the sale of cigarettes in the State by gradually increasing the minimum age to purchase cigarettes, but not other tobacco products or electronic smoking devices, over a period of five years.

Well, at least they recognize in the bill that other tobacco products are less harmful than cigarettes. That's something.

 

[brian64]

@mau1: LOL

the purpose of this Act is to ban the sale of cigarettes in the State

Wow, they even openly admit it's an actual BAN. Nice to see such honesty coming from a legislator.
As Mark Twain said, no man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.