The tobacco-vaping  law and semi-adulthood

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Good afternoon all,

A bill banning sales of cigarettes and vaping gear to people under 21  has been signed into law.

The legislation drew fire in some quarters, with Republicans in the House voting  against the measure. The measure becomes effective in July.

 Delaware now  joins 11  states and 450 municipalities that have opted for the higher age. Other states may follow.

Much of the business community seemed to stay on the sidelines.

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Opposition centered on the issue of an individual having full rights as an adult, other than buying tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.

Smoking remains a factor in Delaware’s high medical costs and the prevailing view is that anything that can be done to keep younger people from getting the habit is a positive development.

For a long period, the state saw a  steady decline in the percentage of smokers, thanks to education efforts and legislation that banned smoking in most public places.

Of late,  progress may have been stopped,  thanks to vaping, which is promoted in advertising as an alternative to smoking.  Whether that is the case remains debatable, given the possibility that young users may alternate between the two options.

Meanwhile,  there is little or no support for lowering the drinking age.

Spikes in  accidents involving drunken driving among younger drivers led the drinking age being raised n many states in the mid-1980s.

The change came after the age was lowered in the 1970s. At that time, legislatures wrestled with the issue of an individual being able to die for their country, but coming home and not being allowed to buy a drink.

The  21 drinking age opened the door to the 21 smoking age. For now, the netherworld of 18 to 21 semi-adulthood will continue.

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