There was recently a case where a woman with cancer was refused NHS treatment because she commenced paying privately for a drug unavailable via the NHS.

When her money was exhausted she was refused the treatment and eventually died :nope:

All of this has happened in the US in the past 15 years or so. I'm surprised this had taken so long in South Africa. I guess countries see differently on certain things.

The physical age here is 18. The mental age is debatable considering why anyone today would even consider smoking. :down:

Older generations may have an excuse, but I simply can't understand why young people are smoking these days. :88)

Alabama

• No statewide smoking ban. A bill to enact a statewide smoking ban failed before the Alabama Legislature in May of 2008.[2]
• Gadsden, Alabama banned smoking in all restaurants within the city limits, effective 5 May 2007
• Decatur, Alabama banned smoking in businesses, including restaurants and bars, effective 1 October 2007.[3]

Pull the other one, I don't know if you realise but America is a federal state - i.e. All and any state can and does pass legislation on tobacco sales and use outside of federal legislation, to say as you do that "all this has happened in the US in the past 15 years or so", well I guess no one told Alabama or any other state with similar laws. Federal government does not legislate on a law governing tobacco sales and use which can and does overide state legislation - so to say that "all this happened in the US 15 years ago" is incorrect. What SA has done, is pass legislation which is applicable to all it states( we call them provinces) which is a far cry from what the US has done.

It is strange (maybe not) but I started smoking at the age of 18 because my friends all smoked - so to be in with the crowd I did. I stopped at around 28 because the friends I then had did not. It really is a peer pressure thing I think, at least in my case. I now find it strange to see young girls smoking given the negative publicity - guys are different, there attitude has always been "screw them - they ain't going to preach to me, I'm one of the boys"

Read again, this has been happening in the past 15 years or so. Happening, meaning, over the past 15 years, legislature has been passing around the country in those 15 years imposing these rules. I did not state it was one fell swoop of legislation. If so, I would have pointed out the year ALL had to follow the new legislation and "past 15 years" would be incorrect. But yes, some states have not imposed some regulations concerning tobacco, hence in the past 15 years, there has been a move to do all those things you have just witnessed in SA.

Sorry, I apologise, I took your statement "All this has happened in the US" as collective. My mistake.

18 here in NZ, we also started this year with the tobbacco packets and tailormades graphic pictures on them displaying cancer patients eg, body parts missing chunks of flesh or cancer in the mouth etc., Although statistics show it hasn't put smokers off.

Actually on second thought my wording is obscure. I have a habit thinking others around the world are experiencing day to day happenings in the US when infact, persons such as yourself in SA, do not. There are just as many simularities between countries as there are not. All on the up and up. I respect your opinions most definitely:up: Besides, I can state with certainty that I have a friend in SA.:D

State of Illinois = 18

even though I see plenty of 14 year olds with purple or green hair sitting on the sidewalk near the store that sells them looking like they just landed on planet Earth pondering what minimum age is all about i.e., "spaced out" look. :huh:

The law makers and law enforcers are a fricking laughing JOKE were I live. The laws give the do-good 'ers this:

"It's like pissing in your pants with dark pants on."
No one seems to notice, but it gives you a warm feeling all over.

Had someone break into my house in 2004. Went to EVERY court date that the s.o.b. had. Got a 5 year sentence for my thing and others. He was out in 4 months !!! because of the over crowding condititions and considered a petty thief!

Story got better, he is back in prison - 10 years. Seems he hit someone -walking -with a car and just happened to have a revoked drivers license ... and he smokes.

Is that a federal law or just where you're at? Here in Utah it's 19.

On the other hand I've just spent the last month doing groundskeeping work at a hospital - a children's hospital. In fact, that's its name: Primary Children's Medical Center. I've done some weeding, some planting, some mowing; but what I've done most of is picking up trash, and most of that is cigarette butts. In the designated smoking area, in the parking terrace, around the main entrance (right in the areas clearly marked 'No Smoking'. I'm betting I pick up at least a thousand butts per week.

People don't care.

Although each state has the right to set the age limit, it's pretty uniform. The minimum in the US is 18, except for Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey, Utah, and in New York the counties of Nassau, Suffolk and Onondaga, where it is 19.