Regarding "Cracking Down on Young Smokers" (Dec. 8):
Cracking down on teenage smokers will make things worse,
not better.

One must consider why teens start smoking in the first place:
They smoke because it is forbidden.

So will legislation to punish teenage smoking help? I don't
think so. High school kids are not going to consider the legal
consequences of smoking if they have already dismissed the health
risks.

Only proper education will reduce teenage smoking.

Joel W. Johnson
San Jose, California