Age of Smoking

The current age to smoke in the UK is sixteen, while youngsters are still at school.

Should it be made eighteen like the drinking age currently is?

Many clerks in shops cannot tell a sixteen year old from a thirteen year old as it is very hard to tell these days. Females wear make up and clothes that make them hard to tell from an eighteen year old, nevermind a sixteen year old. And on the other hand, males are becoming taller, making some look of age as soon as they turn twelve!

Should it be made eighteen so that people can't use the 'I couldn't tell they weren't 16' excuse? Eighteen year olds are more likely to carry around I.D (I.e driving liscences)

Smoking is harmful anyway, so should it be raised to try to be a deterent?

Or should we leave it. if you aren't allowed to smoke, would that act as a reason to make it 'cooler'.

Since mobile phones and iPods, smoking has been in decline for teenagers because it is no longer the 'cool thing' would making the age higher reverse this?