I am a libertarian.

My philosophical bent leads me to the belief that government should stay out of our lives as much as possible. As an adult, if I want to take drugs that should be my affair. The same goes for drinking alcohol or the smoking of any product. As long as I am not hurting any other individual, I should be free to do as I please.

Society does have an obligation to make sure that children are protected, and I agree with that limitation. But when does a child stop being a child? What is the age when a person is old enough to decide to poison himself?

I grew up in New York. At that time, you could legally drink at 18, and there was no age restriction on the purchase of cigarettes. Like many other kids, I did both those things years prior to leaving high school. To place things in an historical perspective, at that time, 50% of the population smoked instead of the current 15%.  People smoked everywhere, including during congressional hearings and we even did so during college classes.

More people drank to excess since the laws regarding drunk driving were seldom enforced, and it took a much higher blood alcohol content to be considered impaired. It was more socially acceptable to a greater segment of the population than now. Society has changed.

Raising the age to legally purchase products does prevent young people from using those products; 80% of lifelong smokers begin before the age of 18. Studies have proven that drinking has a different effect on teenagers than on older adults. Does that mean the state should prevent the use of tobacco and liquor to promote a healthier state? We have tried that prohibition with illicit drugs and alcohol a century ago without much success.

Is it the government’s responsibility to prohibit self-destructive behaviors? If so, America should have many more gun control restrictions than it currently has. The United States has a puritanical nanny streak that goes back to the Pilgrims.

Our society loves to tell a person how to live his/her life (though that is a topic for another day). I want to concentrate only on what age people should be considered “old enough” to make their own decision.

In the last state legislative session, there was a movement afoot to raise the age to 21 for the purchase of tobacco and vaping products. It failed and, as a libertarian, I am happy about the result. I think it is absurd to allow people to vote, marry and join the armed services but then suggest they are not capable of deciding whether to have a drink or cigarette.

In the last half century, we have decided that childhood should continue into a person’s 20s. Because of our irrational healthcare system, a man or woman can continue to be on his/her parents’ health care plan until 26. When is a person old enough to make his/her own decisions about everything and stand on their own two feet?

Being a libertarian, I believe the government should give all individuals as much personal freedom within as few parameters as possible. Shouldn’t there be a greater emphasis on personal responsibility? I understand that government needs to have a minimum standard age in order to protect children. Eighteen sounds about right.

At 18, you may still be financially tied to your parents, but you are now either working or in college or maybe both. Are you more likely to do a stupid thing at 18 than at 21…absolutely! You are also more likely at 25 than at 35. We should not be using government and laws to enact prohibitions that need to be left to the individual’s judgement.