Welcome news – Our view: 21 is better than 18
As a community newspaper, we generally reserve this space for thoughts on local issues. However, a recent national news item with a potential local impact was too significant to pass by unnoticed.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, announced last week he would offer a bill next month requiring people be 21 years old to legally purchase and consume tobacco products. About 450 cities across the country have already enacted similar legislation on a local level. Minnesota is again considering similar legislation as part of its health and human service bill.
The idea of the federal or state government limiting the legal age of tobacco consumption to 21 years of age is welcome news. Some Minnesota cities have already taken the initiative to limit the legal age to purchase and consume tobacco products. Glencoe is not one of them. Those cities are true advocates of local control, a concept seemingly most cities endorse. They did not wait for the state or federal governments to act.
Some city councilors in Minnesota oppose the idea, claiming state or federal lawmakers should act first to keep young people from running to a neighboring town where tobacco can be purchased by an 18-year-old.
The idea of limiting legal use tobacco products until age 21 is long overdue. It has been discussed publicly for years. We know tobacco companies target advertising at young people. The State of Minnesota defeated tobacco companies in court over the notion tobacco is harmful to people and that it tried to hide the harmful effects of its products.
Our society prohibits the legal consumption of alcohol until age 21. That age threshold is well established and reasonable. How does it make sense a person buy and use tobacco three years before legally consuming a beer? It doesn’t.
Some will argue a young person can serve, fight and potentially die in combat for his or her country before being allowed to enjoy a beer or tobacco. Perhaps we shouldn’t allow 18- to 20-years-olds to serve in combat positions. They’re barely out of high school.
We support proud service to our country, but respectfully request a young man or woman be permitted to grow up a little bit first.
Among the many reasons to restrict the age of legal consumption of tobacco products is health care and its cost.
Poisons in cigarette smoke can weaken the body’s immune system, making it harder to kill cancer cells. When this happens, cancer cells keep growing unchecked, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Poisons in tobacco smoke can damage or change a cell’s DNA. The CDC contends DNA is the cell’s instruction manual controlling a cell’s normal growth and function. When DNA is damaged, a cell can begin growing out of control and create a cancer tumor.
At a time when this country struggles with the cost of subsidized health care, the federal government spent approximately $1.9 billion subsidizing tobacco production between 2013 and 2017, according to EWG (Environmental Working Group), a Washington, D.C.-based organization which says it aims to help people live healthier lives in a healthier world. On one hand, the federal government is burdened with the weight of health care while on the other hand, it has apparently subsidized the cost of producing a product that damages peoples’ health. Its befuddling.
Sen. McConnell’s proposal is welcome news. Hopefully, it will become the law of the land without protections or loopholes the tobacco industry utilizes to continue its effort to lure the next generation of smokers.
-jm
