We know tobacco and alcoholic beverages are harmful. Indeed, the majority of current smokers want to quit to save money and/or improve their health. Furthermore, new studies indicate that even moderate alcoholic beverage consumption is harmful, and urge abstinence.
Banning tobacco and alcoholic beverage use forever for persons born after a certain date is one way to virtually eliminate their use by children and the next generation of adults.
I support the United States passing legislation to prevent persons born in 2003 or later from ever purchasing (or consuming) tobacco, e-cigarettes, or alcoholic beverages, assuming legislation can be enacted during 2022 or 2023.
A permanent ban on cigarette purchases for persons born January 1st, 2000 or later already exists in one town, Brookline, Massachusetts.
Brookline, Massachusetts Tobacco Law
The town of Brookline, Massachusetts has passed and begun enforcing a law prohibiting persons born January 1st, 2000 or later from ever purchasing tobacco according to an article by Jon Berrick posted on BMJ.com [1]. Brookline’s ordinance is also discussed in a Time.com [2] article and many others.
At least two nations are considering similar laws.
New Zealand and Denmark Proposed Tobacco Laws
The entire nations of New Zealand and Denmark are considering legislation to permanently ban young persons from using tobacco.
Health officials in New Zealand are urging that nation to enact legislation that would basically prohibit persons age 14 or younger as of a certain year from ever being able to legally purchase cigarettes according to numerous articles, such as these linked to on NPR [3], NBCNews [4], and the Associated Press [5]. Denmark is considering legislation that would ban persons born in 2010 or later from ever smoking according to articles on TheDailyMail website [6], and many others. A VapingPost.com [7] piece. noted that an EU Directive would need changed to permit such legislation to take effect.
Reasons for Banning Tobacco and Alcoholic Beverages
The harmful effects of using tobacco products and consuming alcoholic beverages are well documented.
Tobacco is a leading cause of lung cancer and many other diseases. Surveys indicate that the majority of current smokers would like to quit. Indeed, millions have quit in recent years. Sadly, a large percentage of poor persons spend much of their limited income on tobacco products. Indeed, if millions of SNAP (food stamp) recipients who smoke quit smoking, they could probably buy their own food with the money saved, lower their medical costs (and Medicaid costs) and likely live happier, healthier, longer lives, too.
Alcohol use contributes to automobile accidents, liver disease, brain damage, several types of cancer, and numerous other problems. You may have read or heard that consuming alcoholic beverages in moderation has benefits that offset negative effects. Recent studies indicate otherwise.
A World Heart Federation policy brief [8] urges persons not to drink alcoholic beverages at all. It specifically urges abstinence for persons with “chronic illnesses.” The same brief states that even for “adults with no underlying health conditions” that “there are no safe recommended levels of alcohol consumption.” An Oxford study reported about on Forbes.com [9] is quoted as including the words “No safe dose of alcohol for the brain was found.”
Final Thoughts
Banning tobacco and alcoholic beverage sales (and consumption) forever to persons born in 2003 or later can improve the health of this generation and save them money, without impacting current smokers or drinkers.
Side benefits may include lower Medicaid expenses, fewer disability claims, and increased work productivity. There will even be a significant reduction in trash from cigarette butts and packages, as well as beer containers. We’ll also have fewer fires from discarded cigarettes and fewer cuts from broken glass beverage containers. It will be great not to see litter like the three cigarette butts on a sidewalk in Phoenix Park here in Lexington, Kentucky shown in the May 18, 2022 photograph below.
Tobacco and alcoholic beverage companies will protest this disruption to their sales. But my guess is that the majority of persons will support it. What do you think?
ENDNOTES:
(1) Berrick, Jon; “U.S.: Brookline Introduces Tobacco-Free Generation Law”; BMJ; May 2022, Vol. 31, No. 3, page 399-400; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/tobaccocontrol/31/3/399.full.pdf
(2) Ducharme, Jamie; “How One Massachusetts Town Could Shape the Future of Tobacco”; Time.com; December 9, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://time.com/6126252/brookline-tobacco-free-generation-law/
(3) Sullivan, Becky; “New Zealand’s unique cigarette ban may be model for other countries”; NPR; December 15, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.npr.org/2021/12/15/1064212737/new-zealands-cigarette-ban-model
(4) Chuck, Elizabeth and Stoakes, Emanuel; “ ‘long overdue’ New Zealand models generational tobacco purchasing ban on a U.S. suburb”; NBCNews; December 24, 2021, updated December 29, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-wants-smoking-ban-future-generations-us-town-already-one-rcna9757
(5) Perry, Nick; “New Zealand’s plan to end smoking: A lifetime ban for youth”; AP News; Dec. 9, 2021; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://apnews.com/article/business-health-new-zealand-smoking-wellington-7e5393f99502e89959181031d614aa85
(6) McLaughlin, Charlotte; “Denmark considers BANNING cigarettes by ensuring nobody born after 2010 will ever be able to buy them”; DailyMail; March 15, 2022; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10616415/Denmark-considers-BANNING-cigarettes-ensuring-born-2010-allowed-buy-them.html
(7) Caruana, Diane; “EU Directive Comes in the Way of Danish Government’s Planned Tobacco Ban”; VapingPost.com; April 18, 2022, webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.vapingpost.com/2022/04/18/eu-directive-comes-in-the-way-of-danish-governments-planned-tobacco-ban/#:~:text=If%20the%20bill%20becomes%20law,born%20in%202010%20turn%2018
(8) “The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures”: A World Health Federation Policy Brief”; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://world-heart-federation.org/wp-content/uploads/WHF-Policy-Brief-Alcohol.pdf
(9) Ramirez, Elva; “Study: No Amount of Drinking Alchol Is Safe for Brain Health”; June 1, 2021; Forbes.com; webpage accessed May 17, 2022; https://www.forbes.com/sites/elvaramirez/2021/06/01/study-no-amount-of-drinking-alcohol-is-safe-for-brain-health/?sh=538a64687eaa
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