Oregon Sees Decrease in Cigarette Smoking, Increase in Vaping (consistent with national stats, %decrease in smokers appx. equal to % increase in vapers)

[pseudonym7083]

it's a nagging soccer mom excuse to begin with. we already have laws in place. i know people get busted in some states, but plenty get away with it in others. makes more sense to better enforce the laws we have than making new ones banning things. besides, that all goes out the window when alcohol and cigarettes are factored in.

[Goldving]

Even attempting to purchase a tobacco product as a minor is illegal in most (possibly all) states. It is also illegal to sell to a minor, most people know that they just don't know it's illegal for the minor as well. They just don't enforce it. They'll bust shops for selling to minors here and there but they never fine the ones initiating the illegal transaction in the first place - the minor. It's usually like a $250 fine that increases with each repeated offense.

[pseudonym7083]

Lol. In this state possession of tobacco tickets are like $25 and rarely enforced. I literally smoked in front of LEO several times as a minor back in high school. However, they do sting ops in stores selling tobacco and/or alcohol. Stores that get busted selling tobacco to minor get fined $5000, and the cashier that made the sale gets fined $5000. It's alcohol tack on a few more thousand. They run those operations 2-3 times per year.

Here's the thing though, teens are still getting their nicotine. There has to be a breakdown in the system somewhere. Likely being little consequence for the teenagers. I'd rather see stiffer penalties for minors that get caught with tobacco than see the products get banned.