Sex and cigarettes

For once, I think the government has got it right to raise the age at which people can buy cigarettes from 16 to 18. It will cause a few problems in it's early days, but over time I think it will be a positive move.

What I would like to know, though, is if they think that raising the age at which kids can buy fags will mean fewer kids starting smoking at a young age, then why do they not apply the same principle to the subject of teenage sex and pregnancy and raise the age of consent to 18?

If the principle is correct and will mean fewer smokers, then the same principle will have an impact on teenage sex and reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. And while we're at it, we may as well go the whole hog and raise the age for obtaining a driving licence to 18 - that'll make it all nice and consistent as well as reducing the number of teenagers killed and injured on the roads - if the principle is correct. If it isn't, then what's the point?

As things stand, we'll have teenagers driving off into the woods for a bit of nookie but unable to enjoy a post-coital puff on a cigarette afterwards - and as we all know, that cigarette is a great way of overcoming the slightly awkward moment after a steamy windows moment.