NEWS
BANNED FROM BIRTH
Fury after a small Massachusetts town introduced a first-of-its-kind generational ban on vaping and tobacco .
Words : Jordan Millar
An affluent commuter town on the outskirts of Boston has become the first in the US to completely ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 1 , 2000 . And with access to reduced risk alternatives such as vaping products also limited under the ban , critics warn it is basically ‘ asking for unintended consequences .’
Supporters have called the move an ‘ excellent ’ way to halt the smoking epidemic , stressing that it offers a more achievable alternative to ‘ undesirable ’ or ‘ politically unfeasible ’ outright bans . However , opponents have accused the town of Brookline ’ s ‘ Tobacco Free Generation ’ policy of facilitating a dangerous black market .
One twitter user said : “ There must be something nasty in the water in MA to make people act with such hatred and insanity towards their peers . The Salem witch trials should ’ ve been a warning , not
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There must be something nasty in the water in MA to make people act with such hatred and insanity … the Salem witch trials should ’ ve been a warning , not a manual . a manual .”
Another , Fleur De Twee , added : “ I can understand phasing out tobacco in an effort to encourage smokers to vape and reduce potential future healthcare costs . But this erroneously equates vaping with smoking on the spectrum of harm … misguided prohibition like this is just asking for unintended consequences .” Critics have also accused the ban of breaching personal liberties , stressing that people should be free to make their own choices – especially when it comes to lifesaving , reduced risk products . Michelle Minton of the Competitive Enterprise Institute said : “ The voters of Brookline should understand that , whatever they call this , it ’ s just prohibition . “ And the most self-centered form since it will preserve the rights of those with power while stealing the same rights from future generations … puritanism at its most hypocritical .”
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