I came across an article about a two day festival in Portugal where parents buy cigarettes and allow their children (some as young as five years old) to smoke them. The article states the children are even encouraged to smoke. People say they allow this because it's a tradition.

I think this is ludicrous. Just because it's a tradition doesn't mean it's safe or healthy and I think that we are in a day and age where we should be able to recognize and acknowledge that. I don't understand why people are encouraging this to happen when there is plenty of research about the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. Am I missing something? Or does the US also have crazy (harmful) traditions for children that we just accept just because it's just "always been"? Do you think it's okay for these children to be encouraged to smoke for this festival because it's a tradition?

https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/finance/news/ap-photos-kids-encouraged-smoke-portugal-epiphany-085225827.html