Should smoking become illegal???

Question

I'm doing another debate on wether smoking should become illegal in the U. S. A. I said that it should become illegal and I already have a lot of pros. So I was wondering if anyone could give me some pros and cons. Please help.

Answer 1

Well the cons are pretty convincing.

The strongest being the experiment with the banning of alcohol, known as the 18th amendment to the constitution, or "Prohibition".

From 1920 to 1933, the constitution made the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States a criminal offence.

But as in all capitalist economies, you can't fight supply and demand. If people want to drink, they will find a way.

This lead to one of the most violent chapters in American history. For 13 years, the power and influence shifted from legal industries (which fell under the rules of the law) to illegal industries. Men like Al Capone and Joseph Kennedy became "richer than Rockafeller" making and selling alcohol. And since the practice wasn't regulated, their methods of competition were literally cut-throat.

Thankfully, the government came to their senses and repealed the amendment. The mobsters lost most of their power, and a public campaign warning people of the health risks of alcohol began.

To criminalize cigarettes would only give criminals an opportunity to become very very wealthy.

By taxing cigarettes, (aka "sin tax") the money can be spent on ad campaigns warning the public against the hazzards of smoking. Not to mention to pay for the health-care of the smokers who have developed various cancers.

If you look at the statistics, the latter method has been an enormous success. Thanks to awareness campaigns smoking is at an all time low in this country. The tobacco companies now make the majority of their profits from foreign sales.

To be honest, I don't think you have much of a chance with this debate. A much better argument would be the decriminalization of drugs. The pros and cons are a lot less black and white.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Smoking should not become illegal.

So then..the cons:

That would be a clear violation of civil rights. Just because smoking is unhealthy to those who do it does not mean it should be made illegal.

What would the government do with all of those people who are addicted to nicotine? They certainly couldn't afford to cure them all of it. Plus, nicotine addiction is powerful. Tobacco would just become a black market item, and there would be no government regulation of it, making it potentially more dangerous for everyone. Alcohol was outlawed at one time. And that was an utter failure.

Economically, it would hurt the country. What would farmers who raise it as a cash crop do? The government taxes cigarettes. How would it make up for that lost revenue?

It would set a terrible precedent. Every time a few people don't like something, they could demand it be outlawed.


There is nothing wrong with putting some limits on it so that it doesn't affect people who don't want a part of it such as establishing smoking and non-smoking sections in restaurants and prohibiting it indoors. Banning it completely though would be impractical and wrong.


I guess if I had to do pros, the main one would be:

There would be fewer preventable deaths, and the healthcare system could be relieved of some strain.

I still think making it illegal would be a terrible thing though.

Answer 3

Here's a list of antis

It's unenforcable. Alcohol was banned in the 1920s which DIDN'T mean everyone stopped drinking, it just meant criminals owned all the breweries and ran all the bars. People still drank and alcohol was not particularly difficult to buy.

Tobacco is a huge tax crop. Cigarettes are expensive not because they're hard to grow or make but because the government whacks massive taxes on them.

I think smoking should be banned in all public spaces (possibly with the exception of smoking rooms in large offices, just so workers don't have to waste 15 minutes going to the ground floor to smoke outside) because smoking is just plain rude. It would also make it easier for smokers to give up if they aren't surrounded by other smokers all the time and if it's an effort to light up.

Smoking shouldn't exist - but to ban it is not the right way to get rid of it.

Answer 4

This is just another example of the government intruding into our private lives. I have enough sense to wear my seatbelt when I drive, but if an adult does not want this protection, they should be allowed to kill themselves. Every time we pass a new law against something, we give the government that much more power over us.

They don't have to outlaw smoking. The taxation on smoking products will soon make it unaffordable for most Americans to continue smoking. Public opinion in the form of peer pressure should do the rest.

Answer 5

Why should smoking be illegal? I never smoke indoors and I never smoke where it might bother anyone. I already pay the ridiculous tax the government demands. As other people say; I'm not hurting anyone. Cigarette smoking is not even a minor contributor to air pollution. I'm only jeopardizing myself. Unlike alcohol or controlled substances. I don't even drive. So tell me; what harm am i doing?

Answer 6

I think it would be a good idea because everyone knows how bad it is and that they shouldn't do it.
Now, yes, I am a non-smoker, but you know, there's just no excuse for anyone to do it when they know how bad it is.
I think the pros are, there would be less people trying it, young people and such but cons would be that they would still be those who'd break the law to do it and would probably create protests or mobs possibly for those who might resort to that but then again, we'll never know unless they do outlaw it.
It would create some problems but maybe some solutions too, depending on each person's opinion.

Answer 7

I think that before one can consistently deal with smoking nicotine one also needs to include the consideration of other drugs including both so-called soft and hard drugs and alcohol.

I personally feel that all the above ought to become permissable within a regulated environment. Such would respect both the individual's right to choose as well as to respect the rest of society's right not to be negatively effected by that individual's choices.

In other words, smoking may occur in specific locations, as may the consumption of alcohol and other drugs.

In a regulated environment the risks of such drugs could be marginalized if not negated while the internalization of such processes would produce a safer environment and reduce crime. Illegitimate source-based fatalities would also plummet as, given a choice, I believe that even the hard-drug user would prefer to indulge in his or her habit in an environment where he or she is safe and insured.

Answer 8

In UK and Eire smoking is either banned in public enclosed places or about to be. I gave up smoking many years ago but such is the attitude of many non or ex-smokers I could almost start again but I don't see why I should pay the government more tax than I already do

Answer 9

No, it should not be illegal, we haven't descended to fascism just yet. Where do you wish to stop with the personal policing of our citizens? Maybe Big Macs should be outlawed, all those empty fat calories that are obviously bad for people. Or concerts. We should outlaw concerts because the decibel level is so loud it causes hearing loss. How about alcohol? Oh yeah, we tried that once, it failed miserably.

People are free in this country to eat and drink themselves to death, literally. They are also free to smoke, at least in their own homes lol. So who do we put in charge of these people that the moral police should now monitor because they just can't be trusted to make decisions for themselves? You? Someone like you? No, thanks, I'm an adult and I don't need someone to monitor my health or my habits - and I don't even smoke!

Orwell was right, he was just a little early with the date.

Answer 10

Do you want to let the government make all your choices for you? What will they make illegal next?
You have the right to choose. Don't give that up to the government. There are people all over the world who would love to come here to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted. The freedoms we are handing over to the government and demanding that they make the choices for us. With freedom comes responsibility and if you are truly responsible you should be able to make your own choices.