This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a legal adult at 18, you are old enough to vote and old enough to go to war and die defending this country. But you can't buy a cigarette? Really? ("Utah Lawmakers endorse plan to hike smoking age to 21," Tribune, Nov. 20)
I advocate lowering the smoking age to 18, rather than raising it to 21. The rights of smokers has been stepped upon to the point of out of control. Look at how many companies have gone tobacco-free. (I work at one of these companies.)
I am not promoting underage smoking by any means. But I am saying that if you are old enough to die for your country, you are old enough to buy a cigarette if you choose to do so.
Erik Hoel
Ogden