Increasing the smoking age

MP's want to increase the age at which one can legally buy tobacco in England & Wales. Currently this is set at sixteen. MP's want to raise it to eighteen.

I think legislation like this is arbitrarily set. I don't believe all teenagers would necessarily acquire the mental capabilties to handle tobacco smoking at 18. Some may at 15 or 17 or any other age. Personally I think issues such as these should be attributed to parental responsibility.

In this instance, I think the law should remain as it is. Of course tobacco is harmful. But it's not the state's role to determine who puts what into their body. I'd imagine most teens who reach 16 can ascertain what's healthy or not and make reasoned choices as to whether they smoke tobacco.