Sunday, November 25, 2012

The Big Flavor Debate.

In 2009, the U.S. government banned flavored cigarettes (with the exception of menthol) on the grounds of disguising tobacco as mere innocuous candy to children. Why then, are flavored condoms still legal? Do they not downplay the riskiness and seriousness of oral sex? Seeing as one cannot purchase cigarettes until the age of eighteen I am struggling to understand how this law protects children. By passing this law, legislation is openly acknowledging that a large percentage of smokers are underage, or illegally using tobacco. On the other hand, thanks to the bomb ass work of William R. Baird, Jr. condoms are legal to purchase at any age and it is actually illegal for store clerks to refuse to sell them to minors. So, if we apply the same line of logic used to ban flavored cigarettes to condoms, can we credit flavored condoms as something marketed towards children who are too young to be making decisions regarding sexual behavior?

1 comment:

  1. I was carded once for buying condoms! (in my thirties)

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