Ban smoking in public places?

Question

Why shouldn't smoking be banned from public places? It's a proven health hazard, but yet people are still able to affect other people's health! It just doesn't make sense. I'm glad some states/cities are starting to ban it, and I certainly hope my state does it as well!

Answer 1

I know of no reason that it should not be banned. Sure people have rights to do things but, when it is hazardous to others it should be banned.

Answer 2

While I recognize the unfairness to smokers, I must say as an asthmatic and a non-smoker that I support the ban in SOME public places. I'm from the US (don't know if you're talking about the UK), so here one cannot smoke in restaurants, in some bars at the discretion of the owner, and within 20ft of a public building. I personally find it reasonable. While I understand it's an addiction, I feel that the more limitations placed on smokers the better. It's like letting an alcoholic drink and be rowdy wherever they are, they'll obviously bother someone with their addiction as they will effect others around them. Smoking is becoming more taboo because people are bothered by it. Frankly it stinks and it's an extremely unattractive and unhealthy habit. The more lives we can save by banning it the better. Lung cancer is a terrible thing to live through as it oral cancer, emphasema, and chronic bronchitis. I've watched relatives suffer through the adverse effects of smoking and it's unneccessary to die before your time just for a silly ciggarette.

Answer 3

The idea is to ban smoking in public places because of the effects on the people around the smoke. If smokers have the right to smoke were ever they want, then non-smokers basically have zero rights. Smokers still have rights, in their homes and in the out doors. The difference between smoking and drinking is that you can't get any "second hand" alcohol from simply being near a person. There are so many arguments for and against this issue, but it is my opinion that non-smokers should have the right to breath in clean air while in a public place like a restaurant. I even know smokers that agree with me on this one.

Answer 4

First, second hand smoke while suspected of causing health problems,(which I believe) has not been prooven to cause them.

Now that I have said that I will answer the question. I have no problem with a ban indoors for government buildings. Anything else is and infringement of our rights as American citizens.
For private businesses it should be up to the owner of the company as long as they are not directly taking tax money (IE government contracts, or grants) I someone doesn't like that smoking is allowed in a business then they should not patronize that business, not make the business change, If enough people agree and stop patronizing the business then the business will either die out or change its policy.
Making Smoking illegal outdoors is just stupid. If it is so dangerous that we have to ban smoking outdoors then they should just make it illegal all together.

Answer 5

How about alcohol? Yes, I know they've tried it, but in my opinion it is much more dangerous than cigarettes. Not because I smoke (I haven't for over a year,) and not because I don't drink (I do drink on occasion,) but because people are too stupid to know when to say enough is enough.

Tobacco does cause many health problems, for smokers and others, but they are not always immediate and can be avoided. People can avoid places where other people smoke, and there are a lot of nice smoke-free restaraunts, bars, and whatnot out there. It's often harder to find a place where you can smoke than one where you can't.

On the other hand, you could be driving down the road with your children in the back seat, and some drunk driver could come plowing into you. I'd consider that affecting someone's health.

Yet you don't hear too many people complaining about second-hand death from alcohol.

How about when a mother or father gets drunk and goes home to beat their spouse / kid / or whoever else is in their home.

I'd rather be around a smoker than a drunk. Smokers are often very aware of the dangers that smoking causes, and they are also usually very considerate of people who don't smoke.

Drunks on the other hand are just plain stupid.

Smoking, in my opinion, is a lot less dangerous than some of the other vices out there, yet it is the most demonized of them all. How can one explain that?

Answer 6

I do not smoke and I do not like cigerette smoke. I think that not allowing people to smoke in designated areas is unAmerican though. I do not think laws should prevent people from smoking at all. I think that there are too many laws robbing people of their freedoms as it is and they are thinking of ones to pass day after day. I think that people should be able to smoke at the bar or the beach. The smoking ban is trying to take things a little too far.

Answer 7

I totally agree. You know, the weirdest thing I encounter at restaurants is that the smoking section is near the bathroom. I guess when they're deciding where to put the smokers, they figure the best place is one where children, pregnant women and all the other non-smokers would have to pass. That's crazy! I hope the cities and states take a stronger position in implementing the smoke ban, too! :)

Answer 8

I tend to agree with you, for several reasons.

1. being an ex-smoker, I'm aware of the health risks.
Limiting smoking areas will force smokers to re-think their habit.

2. Many (if not most) smokers treat the world (outdoors) as their own personal ashtray. They drop their butts anywhere (and typically is the reason we have grass fires, this time of year).
A ban would curb unsightly butts in public (of course, it won't curb overweight, unsightly butts in public, but that is another tale...er, tail!).

3. I don't like government telling me what to do, but a ban in public places may be good since it will prevent non-smokers from smelling/breathing second-hand smoke.

*cough - cough*

Answer 9

I find it odd that so many people seem to think that little white tube is so DEADLY, but there are 400 million cars out there spewing MUCH worse crap into your air and its a helluva lot more prevalent than the 1 in 5 people who still smoke cigarettes in the US.

Ban the internal combustion engine, THEN come to me with second hand smoke studies.

Answer 10

I agree! Smoking is bad for everyone, and if someone wants to smoke they can go alone, but to smoke in a public place is just plain rude! Sure, smokers have rights and all that- but what about people with asthma? They have rights too. My friend had an asthma attack today in gym and her mom smokes daily. It's sad really. Smoking should not be permitted in public areas.

Answer 11

Should there be a ban on McDonald's? It is a proven health hazzard. What about bringing back prohibition? Alcohol kills lots of people too! Maybe we should be banned from going outside during daylight hours - to prevent skin cancer of course.

I just don't like the government telling people how to live there lives, and making decisions for me. If you don't want to smoke, then don't. If someone else does, that is the decision that they have the right to make.