Tobacco is still one of the world’s top killers – here are the key obstacles to enacting generational smoking bans

A few US towns have banned cigarette sales to anyone born after a specific date, and several states are considering this path. A psychologist explains why such measures often face stiff resistance.

By: Marie Helweg-Larsen, Dickinson College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 10, 2026

Words: 1,381

Last Updated: 2 hours, 39 minutes ago

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By Marie Helweg-Larsen, Dickinson College

Smoking is really bad for you. Most people know that. Even smokers think smoking is bad for one’s health. But most people don’t know just how bad it is.

More people in the United States die every year from smoking than from alcohol, illegal drug use, car accidents, suicides and murders combined. Cigarette smoking costs an estimated US$240 billion annually in health care costs, which harm not …

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