Under 18s Vaping

[Lundyb]

Controversial I know, but what exactly is the problem here? Children at the age of 12 drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and legally drink energy drinks(coffee,coke, anything caffeine related) and take pain killers etc.

Why is there such a big front on "No e-cigs under 18s"?. I can understand smoking as it is damaging to your health and you should be an adult to make that concious decision, but having to be 18+ to breath vapors of food flavorings and nicotine(which is completely harmless), why is this such a major issue?

 

[Pathology]

Because nicotine isn't completely harmless, and its highly addictive. Children, and that's what they are, aren't for the most part intelligent enough to realize or care about this. Therefore, adults have the choice, because in theory...they know better and can decide for themselves. Children are not.

 

[Ravensfan]

Nicotine isn't completely harmless. Other than the energy drinks, children do all of the things you mentioned illegally. A sure fire way to get vaping banned would be to open it up to minors.

 

[likeego]

Well, there is also the unknown health effects of e cigs, the potential for addiction, the cost, etc... The government probably doesn't want young people using something that could potentially (though unlikely) be dangerous.

 

[ljxkevinljx]

Well, nicotine isn't caffeine

 

[Thompson]

Because for the most part they don't need it?

Say an under 18 does get vape supplies but inconsistently. Go & get a nicotine dependency going then can't get liquid etc, imo its easier for them to get cig. BAM potential smoker in the works. Extreme example? Sure. But not all that unlikely in my mind.

If they are trying to quit, I personally have much less objection. But knowing teens most will get pulled in because ecigs look cool or some other faulty line of reasoning.

And as mentioned ecigs are taking enough flak as it is. With these zealots running around & screaming protect the children, underagers vaping would be a major argument for them & possibly the bane of vaping as we know it.

Faxed in on the Mojo Wire

 

[Ravensfan]

Well, there is also the unknown health effects of e cigs, the potential for addiction, the cost, etc... The government probably doesn't want young people using something that could potentially (though unlikely) be dangerous.

Sadly, it doesn't have to even become a government issue. Vendors and manufacturers should be more than happy to police themselves in an effort to protect children. The big tobacco companies got greedy and started to use marketing that was meant to appeal to children. That was what started the never ending litany of regulations put on smoking today. Vaping is relatively new. They can learn from the mistakes made in the past.

 

[ShayBabe15]

I started smoking when I was twelve, I'm nineteen and have been off analogs for nine months.
Here's my biggest issue-
Most people under eighteen, smoke because it's "cool". I see plenty of teenagers around my area that vape because it's "cool". Yes, you do get some pleasure out of it, but it's upsetting to those who have been through the trials and errors of smoking that see vaping as a clean way out. With such things comes responsibilities. The FDA has not approved anything, yet. There's another handle on in. Minors shouldn't be throwing themselves into something without any reasoning. "It's cool, it's fun, my friends do it, my parents do it, it's relaxing, etc".I'm not going to get down on any minor that drinks, smokes pot, smokes, vapes, etc. Do I think it's wrong? Yes, I do. They aren't adults yet. Do I think everyone needs their experience when they're of younger age (being sixteen or older), yes. Why? Because teenagers are finding themselves and it puts them through learning experiences and tests and gives them a set and options on which road to take.
Now, not every twelve year old drinks beer, not every fifteen year old is a pot head, not ever sixteen year old is a drug addict and not everyone drinks coffee and energy drinks. Does that give an excuse to give the O.K for every underage kid to do so..no, and it shouldn't. Most teenagers do not understand moderation and moderation is key. Death counts rise, crimes rise, bad decisions rise, etc.
Again, coffee, energy drinks, pain killers..MODERATION.
Until one is fit for age to understand moderation, then is it fit for one to explore legally.
The O.K for such things will never be given to those that are underage. Everything has it's pros and cons.

-I started smoking because it was "cool" and everyone in the town I was raised in did the same thing. The habit carried on and got worse when I was sixteen, I did a lot more than cigarettes. Do I regret it, yes and no. I learned way too much, I saw things that put my head on straight, I was thrown into a dark place and found will power to get myself out. Am I as healthy as I would have been if I didn't start..hell no. Did I hurt people because of my habit? Yes. No mother wants to see her sixteen year old smoking and addicted to crack.
Underage leeway hurts people, is wrong and should be addressed.

 

[POSEIDON]

We are fighting for the ability to survive as a hobby/alternate way to give up smoking. Allowing those under 18 to enter our ranks would only add fuel to the other side of the fence(those that would see us banned). The long term effects of vaping are at this moment unknown. Kids do dumb .... all the time, some will vape regardless of the law(much the same as some will smoke, drink do drugs, etc) but this does not mean that we, as a community, should allow or encourage this(or any of the other) behavior.

 

[Whosback]

It's a big deal because nicotine is addictive. Not nearly as bad as in normal cigs but in PV format it still is I am sure. It may not be something most of us can appreciate since vaping is usually something we start after years of the much worse smoking. However, we can't pretend that it's not there.

I don't want kids to start vaping because they think its a cool thing to do. I don't want kids gaping because they can't appreciate that vaping is not without its own health risk, they may be very slight compared to smoking, but still we don't know what the full long term risk are. I don't want kids to be the target audience of vaping adds (give BT a year). I don't want kids to start vaping out of the gate period.

Will we be able to stop every kid from getting vaping supplies? No. Look at all the laws around alcohol, spray paint and analogs. However we are doing what we can to prevent this, venders with no laws to punish them self police and practice a 18+ policy. I've never met a vaper who would try and get a kid to start up. If the laws making it illegal to sell to kids was not laced with all the other garbage that would devastate the vaping community and industry, I would fully support them.

Big tobacco played a dangerous game and targeted children with a chemical cocktail that they knew would kill them and got away with it for decades. Risk factors aside, if we don't openly separate ourselves from those monsters then no one will see the difference between an e-cig and a cigarette.

 

[Ken_A]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with most people on this.
If you are not 18, then you should not:
Drink alcohol
Smoke tobacco
Vote in an election
Hold public office
Join the armed services
Or even vape.

Once you are 18, all bets are off and I hope you have responsible people around you that you at least listen to.

 

[crxess]

Even if it were -0- nic just vaping fruit juice flavors, I'd be against it.
Vaping serves a purpose in aiding smokers/former smokers in their fight against using Tobacco products.
This should be a non-issue for under 18 crowd.
No reason
No logic
No excuse

 

[bananas]

If existing laws about tobacco had been enforced when I was young, I may not be here, almost 25 years later, wishing I had never picked the stupid habit up. When I was 15, 16, 17, I could go into any gas station or liquor store and buy a pack of smokes despite being underage. And I did.

I am happy that, in most areas, stores cannot get away with selling tobacco cigs to minors anymore.

I am also happy that, from what I have seen, e-juice vendors are self-regulating to avoid selling to minors. Of all the laws & regs that are being considered for e-cigs, the ones I have the least problem with are those pertaining to selling to minors. Especially since the e-cigs are essentially self-regulated at this point so safety, proper labeling of nic content, etc could be a concern. As adults, we can make informed choices and take risks. There are laws to protect minors because they are minors. No, turning 18 isn't some magic moment of maturity, but there is a reason it is a common age for being able to make life-and-death type decisions (and getting hooked on nicotine can be such a decision).

I find it appalling that kids are vaping for fun. One of the only so-called 'dangers' I have seen about e-cigs is that it will appeal to kids. I always laughed it off. I guess I was wrong.

 

[Orobas]

I've never seen an e-cigarette vendor who doesn't have an age verification clicker when you navigate there.

Vaping isn't as simple as smoking, but those kids who do vape will be doing it the same way they smoke - an adult or even parents are enabling them.

 

[obsidianchao]

Kids do a lot of stupid things for fun.

While I disagree with the sale of vapes to kids, one could argue it could make good nicotine replacement therapy for teenage smokers.

 

[plastictree]

I'm 19 years old. I got into cigarettes at 12 years old stealing my dads cigarettes, and by 13 I couldn't live without them. Last year I picked up vaping and I quit and I enjoy vaping and it's a hobby now. But when I was 16 I started getting physical, taking aerobics in high school and it sucked because of smoking.

If I had an ecig when I was 16 I would have quit 3 years ago.

 

[crxess]

I'm 19 years old. I got into cigarettes at 12 years old stealing my dads cigarettes,

One reason regulating and Taxing only lines pockets!
Government got the taxes
You got the smokes
Dad got screwed with higher expenses

 

[Kemosabe]

i dont consider myself to be conservative-minded. yet, it still baffles me how childeren are allowed to consume mass quantities of caffeine. i see them at Dunkin Donuts ordering huge coffees with tons of sugar and cream, chugging them down.

sure i know that lots of kids are smart. some even smarter than some people who claim to be adults. but it still comes off as wrong.

 

[bananas]

While I disagree with the sale of vapes to kids, one could argue it could make good nicotine replacement therapy for teenage smokers.

Both you and plastictree do bring up a good point. As a nicotine replacement for kids who are already hooked, I think it would be great just as it is for adults. I don't know what that would mean in terms of legislation or medical approval.

I am still pretty amazed that kids would vape for fun. I guess it never occurred to me that, like smoking, it could be seen as 'cool'. I'm no prude or clueless about the ridiculous, dangerous, and even disgusting things kids do for fun. I remember a couple kids I was friends with who huffed butane for fun. Vaping is better than that!

But I still have a hard time with the thought of e-cigs or PVs (with or without nicotine!) being readily available to kids who aren't hooked on cigs already.

 

[obsidianchao]

Both you and plastictree do bring up a good point. As a nicotine replacement for kids who are already hooked, I think it would be great just as it is for adults. I don't know what that would mean in terms of legislation or medical approval.

I am still pretty amazed that kids would vape for fun. I guess it never occurred to me that, like smoking, it could be seen as 'cool'. I'm no prude or clueless about the ridiculous, dangerous, and even disgusting things kids do for fun. I remember a couple kids I was friends with who huffed butane for fun. Vaping is better than that!

But I still have a hard time with the thought of e-cigs or PVs (with or without nicotine!) being readily available to kids who aren't hooked on cigs already.

Well, I'm 18, never smoked a cig in my life, but use low nic as a replacement for other things. Vaping has many uses!