Anticonsumption

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UK Prime Minister to create ‘smokefree generation’ by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009 (www.gov.uk)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I think it was the prime minister (or spokesperson) who made this very clever argument: (paraphrasing) “we are not taking away choice… cigarettes are designed to inherently take away your choice by trapping you in an addiction.”

I’m not picking sides here, just pointing out a great piece of rhetoric to spin the policy as taking away something that takes away your choice. Effectively putting forward the idea that you don’t have choice to begin with.

(sorry to say this rhetoric was not mentioned in the linked article; I just heard it on BBC World Service)

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I don't live in the UK but I would not support this anywhere because making something banned makes people want to use it and creates a black market. I would absolutely support raising the minimum age you are allowed to consume it at. But not a complete ban.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

What if we raise the minimum age by 1 year, each year

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Isn't that the same thing, only making the cutoff 2006 instead of 2009?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Shh, don't tell anyone

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Oh sorry haha

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

What is the minimum age there in the UK? Here in the United States, it's 18. And alcohol is 21. I would say raise that to at least 21 to match alcohol.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Vapes have pretty much taken over here in the UK. The vast majority of smokers are the older generation.

I've been to Spain twice in the past year and each time amazed at how many smokers there are still. These were the Spanish and Germans.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

I grew up in a house with a smoker and would not want to do that at all ever. I'm okay with vaping, but I don't want anything to do with tobacco products at all. I just vape marijuana.