There is much debate between politicians and common citizens alike regarding tobacco laws. Some believe that smoking should be outlawed in all public places, while others believe that there should be no restrictions whatsoever. Regardless of personal perspective, a public smoking ban is certainly a controversial subject. Those who do not smoke generally feel a full public smoking ban is necessary, while those that do choose to smoke believe that it is their right to smoke freely. While there may not be a clear answer, this issue is extremely meaningful to many. Personally, while there are several pros to a full smoking ban in public, I believe there are more cons, and as a result smoking should not be fully banned in public places.
Smoking and tobacco bans have been fairly common throughout history. The first was in 1590, established by Pope Urban VII. Anyone caught smoking was excommunicated by the church – the first established consequence as a result of smoking. Certainly at that point in history the health risks weren’t known, an it wasn’t until much recently that the health risks of smoking and inhaling second hand smoke became known. As a result of the apparent health risks, exclusive sections for smokers arose in restaurants, businesses, and other public areas. Although this significantly reduced the health risks to non smokers, many states, beginning with California, began to fully ban smoking in certain public places, beginning with restaurants. While this further reduced health risks, the primary reason for backing the ban, many still feel that a full ban in all public places is necessary.
However, while there may be health benefits to non smokers, the cons greatly outweigh the benefits to such a ban. The effects of second hand smoke are still not extremely clear. While there have been many studies of the effects of second hand smoke, the results have varied greatly. Although there are certainly adverse effects to inhaling second hand smoke, are they truly significant enough to ban smoking even outside of public establishments? I think not.
The primary reason smoking should not be fully banned in public is the economic benefits our country receives from smokers. Taxation on cigarettes within the United States yields roughly 8 billion dollars a year, clearly a significant amount. If smokers are going to be taxed by the government so harshly, then they have a right to smoke in public places. The government needs smokers for the significant amount of income that they provide. While this is the primary reason, there are also several others.
Another reason not to ban cigarettes in public is the detrimental effects it will have on those that live with smokers. If public smoking is no longer an option, than cigarette smokers will expose their family and friends to even more second hand smoke within their homes. Those that argue a public smoking ban cite the health risks to those nearby smokers while they do so. However, they often do not consider the fact that those closest to habitual smokers will be exposed to much more second hand smoke within their homes than before the ban. As a result, children of smokers will be far more likely to contract diseases commonly associated with inhaling smoke.
Lastly, a public ban on smoking can lead smokers to resort to other illicit or illegal drugs. If public smoking becomes a significant crime, then the results could be those similar to prohibition. Smokers will be criticized more for their decision to smoke, and as a result may gateway into even more illegal substances. Although adult smokers may be responsible and avoid doing so, young smokers will become even more scrutinized, and as a result more likely to rebel in society by trying other substances.
Ultimately, a full ban on public smoking would be detrimental to society for a variety of reasons. Cigarette smokers have a huge economic importance to our country, and the tax dollars our government receives should allow them the right to smoke freely in public. In addition, while there may be significant health risks to inhaling second hand smoke, a public smoking ban would expose those closest to smokers to even more health risks than before. While I believe smoking is detrimental to one’s health, I will admit to smoking occasionally. Now is not the time for our country to enforce such a ban, for the results would produce little benefits and countless negatives. While such a ban is certainly a possibility in the future, our society is simply not ready for it at this point.
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