What do you think about smoking bans?

Question

Whether you are a smoker or non-smoker, do you feel that smoking bans help keep the air cleaner and people healthier, or do you feel that it is a pointless infringement of individual rights?

Answer 1

It's wrong for the government to intrude so far into individual's and businesses' rights.

If cigarettes are really so dangerous that they can kill someone 20' to 50' away from a smoker, then make them illegal. Otherwise, the government should stay out of it.

How hypocritical is it to claim they are powerful enough to kill at 50', but yet still allow their use? According to the government, cigarettes are more dangerous than guns. Should convicted felons be allowed to possess cigarettes?

Answer 2

I am a smoker and I hate the smell of smoke, so I actually like the ban, except that I can not smoke anywhere now.

I used to think that the bans would hurt businesses, but in Chicago they really have not. Which was very surprising to me. However, I do not understand why we can not leave it up to the owners to decide whether they want a smoking or non-smoking establishment. It will be their own risk, and if customers don't like smoking, just don't go in.

I think this is another case of getting the government to tell us what to do, because they think we are too stupid to make up our own minds about our health. At some point individuals, not the government, need to take responsibility for their own actions!

Answer 3

It may help people who don't smoke. But it is generally a really annoying law for smokers.

Also, the smoking bans in restaurants are completely and utterly wrong. Illegal in my opinion.

The restaurant belongs to someone. It is their property. Thus, it is THEIR choice if they want their restaurant, or bar, or store to be non-smoking. It's their own personal, private property, it'd their choice.

Smoking may be unhealthy, but it is by no means immoral. It's not "dangerous" in an urgent sense. It's dangerous like eating candy is. Eventually It could lead to health problems that prove fatal.

but it's not guaranteed.

Let us also not forget that lots of non-smokers die of the same thing as smokers. Always have, always will.

Answer 4

It may keep the air cleaner indoors; however, I think it is a pointless infringement on individual rights. What about the pollution from your eight cylinder SUVs, and the noise pollution of your cellphone chatter, your screaming kids, the anal gases you breathe. I think the non-smoking people are intolerant of other people. Why don't you look at some of your behaviors and think how they affect other people. I have to put up with your idiosyncrasies.

Answer 5

I like smoking bans.

I have a lung disease and when smoking is allowed anywhere, I have to restrict or limit where I go because I would get sick very shortly. When the smoking bans were in place, I am able to go to more restaurants, bars and other establishments that I was never able to go to before.

I don't think it is an infringement of anybody's rights. One's right to smoke ends where the air that I breathe begins.

Answer 6

I feel that not smoking in buildings are a good idea but banning smoking outside is dumb. Like in outside eating areas,duh are they going to ban smoking in your homes next? I'm a non-smoker by the way.

Answer 7

When I used to smoke, the first ban where I lived sucked. They even banned it in bars. I didn't think that was very fair. I did understand restaurants though. It's an open area and you can't control where the smoke goes. I hated sitting in the smoking section watching old people with oxygen tanks come in at Village Inn sit down not 20 feet from me because of the size of the dining area. I'd put my cig out.

However, when I went to quit, it was incredibly helpful! There was no peer temptation to smoke! Everywhere I went I couldn't light up if I wanted to, and the temptation was less because neither could anyone else.

Now that I'm pregnant and live in a community that does NOT ban smoking in public buildings, I long for one. The smell makes me absolutely nauseus. I can't eat at restaraunts that allow it. Not only that, but I know how dangerous it is to myself, my 6 yr old son, and my unborn baby. Just smelling stale smoke tells me those dangerous chemicals are in the air. What's worse, the places that do ban it don't place designated areas properly. So you walk out of the grocery store into the employees on break and a wall of smoke. Gross!

I now work at a medical school. There is no smoking allowed on any part of the campus, or within 500 feet of the campus. It's wonderful! I absolutely love that I can go anywhere on campus, walk out of any building, and not be bombarded with cigarette smoke involuntarily.

Second hand smoke does kill, and I don't like being exposed to it without my consent. I certainly hate my unborn baby being exposed to it. It's one thing if I chose to smoke or chose to visit a friend or family member who smoked. It's quite another to be minding your own business and be forced to breathe it.

So if smokers feel forced out of places, consider the freedoms of nonsmokers. Not only do we have to deal with it inside places without bans, but we have to deal with it just outside the door. It's not like we have a choice of a smoking or non-smoking exit from public buildings.

Yes, I've changed grocery stores, but places like theaters, banks, etc. have the same problem of employees standing outside the only entrance/exit having a smoke break. I can't escape. I'd like to see bans go farther to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen either. It infringes on my right to choose whether to allow cigarette chemicals into my body or not.

Answer 8

They help clean the air, and people get healthier when they breathe cleaner air. Even second-hand smoke (that others around a smoker breathe) can kill.

Answer 9

Every time I have to walk though a cloud of smoke to get into a store, office, or hospital my rights to fresh air is infringed upon. The smell gets into your clothes and it stinks. I am so embarrassed that I use to be one of those nasty smokers. I've sat around with my friends who where smokers and woke up the next day totally ill with chest pains. So it affects my health.

Answer 10

I think all public should be banned. Isnt the smokers smoke an infringement on my right to cleaan air!

Answer 11

I Dont Smoke But Its Nice To Go Some Where And Enjoy Your Food.