Council vote for Tobacco 21 Ordinance delayed until January

“It’s not going to pass next week, but it’s going to pass,”  SA Metro Health Director Colleen Bridger said of the proposed ordinance to raise the age of smoking in Bexar County from 18 to 21.

Obviously smoking is not healthy but at what point should people be allowed to exercise their free will? Government uses tax dollars to promote lifestyle (good and bad) choices regularly. An 18 year old can fight and die for our country but can’t choose to smoke?

SAMHD should focus on being consistent with their messaging. The Department has promoted sexual intercourse for young ages, even 11-13 year olds, as “healthy” as long as they are using a condom, i.e. promotion of Draw The Line, Respect The Line risk reduction based Sex Ed curriculum to the NEISD, and programs like Wrap City. It would be better for SAMHD to promote risk avoidance in all of these lifestyle choices by common sense persuasion, not mandates for truly healthy lifestyles. 

To read more from The Rivard Report, click here.