Smoking age of 21?

[RINO Tom]

Both the drinking and smoking age should be 18 (normal)

Pretty much this, though I've grown fond of 19 as the best age for these things to at least try to keep them out of high schools.  In general, this nanny state puritan bullshlt never works and just curtails freedoms from people who are largely minding their own business.  I'm kind of mad at myself for even engaging in actual debate over this stuff, haha ... if some old, grumpy politician is trying to make it even harder to enjoy soft vices in the US of A, the only appropriate response should be " off."

[RINO Tom]

I'm all for it. Old enough to fight is a cop out and have personally seen many a Sailor and Marine chain smoke at 18/19/20 (some said they started like at 14 or so), even in port and not deployed. It's an unhealthy lifestyle and many people in my family, with the exception of my siblings and I and my uncle's side who do not smoke, are chain smokers with all the typical consequences (COPD, hacking cough, urge to smoke every 10 mins or so, cardiovascular issues, etc.)

Forgive my harshness, but ... so.  what?  You make a lot of logical points, but those points would be better served in intimate conversations with people you know and care about being told that smoking is not a good decision.  The same is true for the relatives and friends of those 18/19/20 year olds telling them the same.  I HATE smoking, and I had three grandparents who smoked.  The smell makes me want to vomit as soon as I get a whiff.  However, this unrealistic and idealistic "save people from themselves" attitude has never worked, and it never will.  If people want to smoke a cigarette, knowing full-well the consequences, tough.