Films from the 1940s and 1950s glamourized smoking. The messages were clear: cool people smoked; sexy people smoked; movie stars smoked.

Today, smoking is viewed far differently.

Modern medicine has shown us the ugly side of “looking cool.”

Smoking causes a litany of other health problems. We know that now and thus we’re smart as a country to try and curb the habit of smoking.

Adams County Supervisors took a step in the right direction this week passing a county law that prohibits sales of tobacco products to persons under the age of 21.

Statewide the current age limit on tobacco purchased is 18.

Supervisors acknowledge that on its own the county’s ban doesn’t do much to curb late-teen tobacco use. People between the ages of 18 and 21 who wish to smoke can simply go into the city limits of Natchez or drive across the river to Louisiana where the limit remains at 18.

The point is that supervisors are doing something that should help our youth in the long run. If only one young person doesn’t start the smoking habit in his or her life the effort will be worthwhile.

More important, though, is that perhaps their actions will garner the attention of the City of Natchez and the municipalities nearby in Louisiana to enact similar laws.

If the region decides to do so, it can take a small step to improve our region’s long-term health for decades to come.