Smoking

[emjay]

I think smoking deserves to be higher, as it leads to strong addiction, and undeniable cumulative health consequences, and is as I said specifically (and arguably cynically) targeted/marketed at young people. Marriage can be reversed, debt can be reversed, but the damage of smoking cannot. I suppose you could argue also for a similar age for drinking, but it is far more possible to 'drink in moderation' than it is to 'smoke in moderation'; the latter doesn't really exist IMO, it's all going to be cumulative damage, slowly creeping up on you as you get older, however much you smoke. I know you're still enamoured of it, and I don't know how old you are but from this thread I would assume you're quite young, but however cool or 'aesthetically pleasing' it may seem, you can't escape the damage it does, which creeps up slowly on you as the years go by.

You can certainly smoke in moderation.  I do.

Regarding my age, whether I count as young or not is arguable.

And yes, it's bad for you. 

And yes, I think it should have a high age limit.  I'd be ok with 24, though 21 is likely more palatable and easier to keep consistent.  Though I would make that the same for driving and other things too.

I'm glad we at least agree that the age should be high.

I just mean that alcohol in moderation/small amounts is not damaging and sometimes even considered good for you, but any amount of smoking is damaging. If you truly don't smoke that much, then that's definitely better, but still damaging over the long term.