I’m just sitting here at, well what can only be described as a warehouse with a massive climbing structure inside for children to play on; it has a slide, ball pits, giant balls, rope swings etc etc. That all aside though, I was wondering as there are children running around me, how old was you when you first had a pinch off snuff? Also, how old would your children have to be when you would allow them to try a pinch? I was about 12 when my Dad bought some snuff and let me try a pinch. I’m now 21. It was this pinch that eventually lead me to buying some George IV and Lowen-Prise when I was 20 which lead me to being a lover of snuff. I personally would let my daughter try a single pinch when she is 13 or 14.
Forgot to mention that my daughter is two.
I’m childless, but my answer would be about 4 or 5. Remember, if you do it and prohibit them, you are shaping their future behavior.
I was middle aged when I discovered nasal snuff – roughly about year ago. If I had a kid some of this would be dependent on the kid and circumstance. If the kid took up smoking it would be likely partially motivated by a desire to rebel (since the kid would know I don’t want them to smoke) and so I doubt I’d have much luck getting the kid to take snuff instead, but if for any reason the kid expressed interest in it and especially if snuff would keep the kid from picking up smoking? Honestly, because of the laws and climate around tobacco use where I live (USA) I’d probably privately condone the use of snuff, possibly even as early as 13 if that’s what it took, but I’d deny any knowledge of or allowing of it it in public (a slightly different take on “don’t let me catch you doing it”) until the kid was 18, just because its gotten to where kids can be taken from parents for any crazy ‘reason,’ the state is so often called in when it never should be, and then other times when kids really do need help they ‘fall through the cracks’ until real disaster happens I’d tell the kid to go ahead and snuff, but be smart about it and not to make it a problem (for either of us).
I was sixteen. Bought it from my favorite cigar shop. I was in the try everything phase of my tobacco life (as well as a few others.) I kept at it mostly because it was easier to sneak a pinch of snuff then a smoke while at school.
18 at university. Not really planning on having children (they irritate me to no ends, and as an insomniac, I don’t need some little monster of mine inhibiting sleep any more than my body does now), but if I did, probably around 14 or 15 if they were really interested in it. I couldn’t really justify starting them on it or egging them on though. Then again, it’s like drugs or alcohol. If I were a parent, I would rather they let me know if they were smoking pot or drinking, and have them do it at home where I know they won’t get smashed and flip their car into oncoming traffic coming back, rather than hiding it and doing it away at a friends house or some such place, and then killing themselves in some stupid accident. I’d still probably discourage it until they were 18, though. Even if snuff is proven to be totally benign aside from a nic addiction, it’s just one more unnecessary habit that I could prevent my kids from picking up.
I tried snuff at 20-21, then got into it at 41. My two daughters have both tried it. At the time they were 20 and 14. Both tried Swiss Chocolate. The eldest still uses it now and then. The 10 gram tin has lasted her over a year. The youngest only uses a itty bitty pinch of whatever menthol I have around as a cleaner for a stuffy nose. A couple hits day for 2-3 days and all is well. I need to find her some tobacco free menthol. She’s not addicted and I don’t want her to be. The oldest is already lost to nicotine so I’m not wasting to much effort trying to break her, form snus and snuff.
- My current age.
One thing that I’ve always wondered is, why do people talk about being adedicted to nicotine like it’s the devil. It’s pleasurable, doesn’t actually cause any damage to the body in itself, it’s the chemicals and carcogens when burned which is the problem, so what’s wrong with being addicted? I think it has negative connatations more than anything… I quite like the idea of my daughter coming and cuddling up to me and us sharing a pinch together, after all, I’d be safe in the knowledge that what I’m allowing her to do, isn’t going to cause her cancer or any harm.
The problem with addiction is the amount of substance necessary to satisfy it. With nicotine which has been studied to death (pun) it is a known fact that being exposed in the developing years of life is a significant factor in addiction. In a bigger picture, the fact that cigarettes are the most accessible form of nicotine consumption puts pre-exposed individuals at risk. Hence the “gateway” factor. As snuff takers this is our biggest obstacle to overcome, proving that although “gateway” potential is inherent, this (snuff) IS the end all, be all. final answer.
Tobacco is nothing for children. Never and not just to let them try. Full stop.
On the Dholakia site it says Kamal and Ganga are used for teething. Are we going to condem them for this! Of course not. In the UK we have had enough of “the nanny state” telling us what to do. As far as I am concerned, they are your kids so its your decision.
As much as I enjoy snuff, I only started using it to get rid of a worse addiction. Not something I would want for my kid. That said, if he took up smoking, I would surely recommend snuff instead.
I was extra careful when my young children were around large amounts of tobacco leaves when I was weeding and sticking them, just out of the fact of nicotine transfer. A young child holding a smoke, (Van Halen cover comes to mind) or a snuff box may look cute and I may even find it funny out of the irony of it all, but that’s where it ends. I would never encourage them to use tobacco in ANY form at a young age…but push them towards snuff rather than cigs in their mid/late teens, if they must. By me using it in front of them, I’m showing I approve of it, I suppose. I also don’t believe in hiding things from my young ones…so I’d rather it be snuff, IMO.