Parents buying cigarettes for children in Texas?
August 30th, 2010
I have a friend who says it’s okay to buy her 16 year old daughter cigarettes. We live in Texas and the daughter recently got out of a drug rehab hospital and told her mother that basically the mother can buy her cigarettes or she’ll start using drugs again. The mother said it’s the lesser of two evils. I say it’s illegal, but she says it’s not because in Texas you can serve your minor alcohol in your presence. Anyone have any ideas on the law aspect? (Let’s stay away from the moral aspect for this question, please). I’ve looked online and haven’t had much luck to prove my case to her.
Thank you for all of your answers. From what I can gather, there is no law limiting the age at which someone can smoke, but have to be 18 to purchase. Anyone other than a parent, legal guardian or spouse can buy tobacco for the minor and the minor can only use it in front of the said legal buyer. If the minor is caught with tobacco w/out the legal buyer present, then all applicable fines, classes & restitution apply.
I meant to say the only ones who can legally purchase is the parent, legal guardian or spouse. Sorry for the confusion.
That’s wrong, but I’m not sure about illegal.
It’s just illegal to buy tobacco under the age of 18, not to use it. :/
I honestly don’t know the legality of her buying cigs for her daughter. She is right that in TX as long as you’re parent is with you, you can get an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant. The restaurant can say no, but they are allowed to serve you.
I also, know that in a lot of the hick towns in TX the kids start dipping and smoking cigs at a young age. I know this, because I am from TX and know a lot of people from the small kick towns.
I know it doesnt completely answer your question, but I hope it helps!
its not illegal to smoke cigarettes just to buy them im from ny and alot of 16 year olds smoke n theres nothing that can really be done
it may be wrong but its not illegal.
if it was my daughter i would do the same thing…i would rather me know my kid is smoking and limit how many cigs she gets a day then doing drungs or sneaking ciggys from me or someone else
smokes too. this is what i have to go by. i was in the army and we had a very young soldier who was 17 and married. by TX law her spouse could buy her booze and smokes. but not by military law. so we prosecuted him. i know there was a bunch of questions going around and we all learned that it is legal in TX.
she is the parent and there for the state feels like mother knows best. i know this is stupid as hell but that is what they law is there.
Your friend is being blackmailed into getting her daughter cigarettes.
You need to tell her that she needs to discipline her daughter more (so that she is the dominant one) rather than obeying her. Possibly even get your friend’s daughter a councillor.
Lisa.Rr x
TERRIBLE.
its not illegal for a 16year old to smoke its just illegal for them to buy them