Editorial - Under 21 Legislation Well Intentioned But....

The Suffolk County Legislature in a 10 - 8 vote approved legislation to restrict sales of tobacco and other items related to smoking to people over the age of 21. The legislation prohibits sales of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, herbal cigarettes, rolling paper and pipes to all minors and adults under the age of 21. Businesses found in violation of the new law could be fined as much as $1,000 for their first offense and $1,500 for a second offense.  County Executive Steve Bellone is expected to sign the bill into law effective Jan. 1, 2015.

As well intentioned as it may have been, the Suffolk County Legislature’s vote to make 21 the official age of eligibility to purchase products of or relating to tobacco and or smoking, should make people of all ages uncomfortable.  Equality in the eyes of the law is the very basis of our democracy.  An 18-year-old is either an adult capable of making decisions or not.  The determination of competency in decision making should not be issue dependent. 

The dangers of smoking are incontrovertible. Smoking is detrimental to health and it is an economic burden for society. Lung cancer, heart disease, colon cancer and emphysema are just some of the diseases attributed to smoking. No one should smoke!

It is fair to assume that all eighteen members of the legislature would do everything within their power to prevent young adults from developing an addiction to tobacco products. They are to be commended for their desire to promote the health and well being of Suffolk residents. However, enacting legislation directed at one segment of the population is not the way to go. And enacting unenforceable legislation, no matter how well intended it may be, is not the way to go. This legislation does not change the fact that it is legal for eighteen-olds to smoke in private and in public designated smoking areas. 

Today’s eighteen year-olds are not ignorant of the hazards of smoking. They have grown up with mandatory health classes exposing them to all types of health issues including; sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, contraception and the consequences of substance abuse and smoking. Eighteen year olds may vote, join the service, marry, have children, have abortions,  enter into contracts, pay taxes, they are not minors when seeking health care and may be required to make life and death decisions. 

To classify eighteen to twenty-one year olds as uniquely unqualified to make decisions about smoking, tobacco and e-cigarettes is to single out a segment of society.  It also supports an arguement that our young adults, despite reaching an age of majority, are second class citizens. It is a classification that I suspect many of the legislators would have rejected when they were this age. 

Maturing is a process that often involves trial and error. No one is perfect and no one gets to senior citizen status without making a few course corrections. There is no way to prevent people from making bad choices. It happens at every age. Leading by example, education and effective legislation remain the viable solutions to preventing smoking addiction. 

Taxpayers across Suffolk County have paid dearly to provide our young people with the educational tools they need to make intelligent decisions. Suffolk County’s eighteen plus population deserve our support, trust and most importantly our understanding. They have a fabulous and exciting journey ahead of them. A little confidence in their ability is warranted. 

Pat