Dear Source:
I was born on St. Croix and remember when I was a kid buying cigarettes for my family as young as 9 yrs. of age. I am against having my children even going to the fridge to get a beer for my husband due to the fact that I do believe that the younger they are introduced to alcohol and cigarettes, the bigger the curiosity. The same way my mother use to flick that cigarette and I use to run and pick it up, go to the back of the house and smoke what was left. By the age of 15, I was already a smoker. I do believe that the Island should have a stricter laws for buying cigarettes and alcohol just like here in the U.S.–No ID, no sale–and stricter penalties for businesses selling to underage kids.
Maria I. Baxter
Casselberry, Fla.
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