Kids and Smoking and the Power of the Marketplace

Re: Somebody Else Teach Kids Not to Smoke (Voices, March 1): I am glad that the two retailers said that they do not sell to underage kids, but I felt they were copping out, too. I, as a parent, did everything I could to discourage my son from smoking. First and foremost, his father and I set the example by never smoking. Also, we told him often how dangerous it was and complained about smoky air when a smoker was in the room. He grew up hating cigarettes. Until he was 14, that is, and then peer pressure won out. I caught him smoking in the mall one day. Some shop owner had sold them to him because the merchant didn’t want to “alienate” him. Well, they alienated me. I spread the word around the neighborhood.

I did my best to do my job as a parent, but it can be sabotaged so easily. It really does take a village.

LINDA COVERDALE

Redondo Beach, CA.