29 Jul Smoking Trends Rise and So Does the Legal Age Limit
In recent years, vaping has become a very popular ‘alternative’ to smoking cigarettes. Compared to smoking cigarettes, vaping is ‘healthier’ both for the individual and their environment. However, both vaping and smoking cigarettes continue to carry a social stigma with them, a “coolness” factor. While vaping is growing more popular, it is not replacing cigarettes altogether.
Since the introduction of e-cigarettes in 2004, the percentage of high school seniors who smoked increased from 9% to 13%. It is still a bad habit, and e-cigarettes are not completely risk-free either. Plus, the University of Southern California found in a recent survey that teens who vaped were 6 times more likely to smoke cigarettes than those who do not vape.
In another attempt to curb teen smoking, California recently changed the legal age limit to smoke. Previously, you had to be 18 to purchase and/ or smoke. Now, you must be 21. Anyone caught illegally purchasing, selling, and/ or smoking is subject to any combination of fines and jail time. The fine amount and/ or the length of the jail sentence will depend on the scope of the situation. In all likelihood, those who are arrested for these crimes will be offered bail, and Bail Bond Store – Santa Clarita can help with the bail bond process.