Americans Should Not Be Allowed In Public Places

This problem, which plagues all Americans, should have action taken on a local scale to help protect the health of the public. The Ames City Council is in the process of debating a city ordanince which whould ban smoking in all public places, with the exception of those designated as "smokng areas". A public place shall be defined by Subsection

Over the years, there has been much debate about the ethical concerns of second-hand smoke. Inhaling second hand smoke is an unavoidable consequence of being in the vicinity of smokers, exposing non-smokers to the same harmful chemicals as those who voluntarily engaged in it. While acknowledging the selfish nature of second hand smoking, governments in various countries like Singapore have put in place smoke-free laws that restricts smokers from smoking in certain public places ("Smoking prohibition," 2013). However, there are many outdoor areas, which the government cannot possibly ban as well, signalling that the ethical concerns of the smoke released from smoking cannot be eliminated.

It is argued that the establishment of smoking and no-smoking areas is sufficient to overcome the problem of second-hand smoke. However, this is ultimately not the case. Imagine there are indeed separated smoking and non-smoking areas. The smoker and non-smoker are together and have to decide where to go. If accommodating smoking is the norm, the smoker can go away, opt for the non-smoking area or for the smoking area.

Smoking is an activity in the society that has become a serious topic as it causes health problems to both smokers and passive smokers due to the inhalation of tobacco. Consequently, the most visible alternative for the legislators and other institutions in various countries is the banning of smoking in public. Smoking is not only a social habit that does harm non-smokers but it also takes away their freedom from being forced to inhale the contents of the cigarettes. Nowadays, many developed countries around the world enacted laws and established rules against smoking in public areas as a consequence of effecting "second smokers" especially children and babies. Banning should be considered the possible solution to this problem.

In 1997 about 20% of non-smokers were likely to end up with lung cancer. According to USA today, “the number of people that were hospitalized for strokes fell from 16% while the hospitalization for respiratory disease fell 24%” they believe that the more demanding the law the more impact it will have (Szabo, 2012). Being around a smoker can endanger an innocent bystander’s health. Even kids are at risk when it comes to developing asthma. Statistics have proven that a non-smoker is susceptible to second hand smoke that can lead to lung cancer as well. This means, there is the possibility of non-smokers being affected even if it means being in contact for less than thirty minutes. It affects the blood flow as well as the blood vessels and of course the heart. Although we cannot immediately keep smokers off the street (not that I want to), we can still work to have the act banned from public places to insure the health of others as well as smokers. Banning smoking on hospital grounds should definitely happen. Hospitals are supposed to be a healthy ground, not a toxic place where one may go and get sick just by standing outside around a smoker. The hospital is a place for curing so anything that can harm a patient should not be allowed in or around the facility. Smoking should be done on the smoker’s time when they are alone. According to

Smoking has become a health hazard to the world today, and there is no better way to settle the problem other than executing illegal smoking. Smoking causes approximately 40% more pollution than diesel car exhaust and is the leading cause of pollution due to its fine particulate matter. Former Professor in medicine, Anthony Rebuck states, “There is a triple threat[danger]… to human health… and it is due to people smoking.” Even though society

One of the major reasons for death and preventable diseases is tobacco use. Just in the United States of America, smoking has found to be the cause of “over 40,000 deaths due to heart disease and over 200,000 episodes of childhood asthma per year” (Naiman et al 1). Some of these cases could be specifically linked to secondhand smoke, “defined as an involuntary exposure to a combination of diluted cigarette side stream smoke and the exhaled smoke from smokers” (Naiman et al 1). Greenwald found that “by 2015, 36 states and 4,177 municipalities in the USA had enacted law that restricted where smoking was allowed” (101). Smoking in public places should not be allowed because

Walking in cities like Portland can be enjoyable and fun. It is entertaining to explore a city by walking through its streets, and appreciating the view of the high towers while enjoying the gentle breezes traveling between those buildings. However, getting hit by a smoke fog is a mood killer and can be toxic. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that, "Cigarette smoking causes about one of every five deaths in the United States each year, More than 480,000 deaths annually" (2014). Smoking in public is a noticeable problem that Portland undoubtedly suffers from every day. People get affected by this issue, especially when it is harmful to humans from seniors to children; even unborn babies can face high risks from it. Avoiding smoke, inhaling and exhaling a good quality air is not a choice anymore. Many people say smoking should be banned, but the idea of banning it is far from reality considering how it can be addictive, but the smokers' smoke and the pedestrians' lungs could be isolated from contacting each other for sure. Countless simple solutions can help solve the problem. The government has the authority to take actions to reduce or eliminate this issue entirely by issuing laws. Signing smokers to special anti-smoking programs can discourage them from smoking. Placing smoking booths on the streets like the ones in airports could be useful, effective and would not be an alien idea for such an urban, modern city.

People are educated that smoking is not harming smoker’s health only, but also people who are around smokers. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a research stating that 18 of every hundred adults in the U.S. currently smoke cigarettes, causing more than 480,000 deaths every year (“Current Cigarette Smoking”). There are health issues that occur with smokers and passive smokers. The Clean Indoor Air Act was amended in Washington State on November 8, 2005 in order to protect residents’ health, prohibiting “smoking within 25 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve enclosed areas where smoking is prohibited” (“Smoking in Public Places Law”). People are not allowed to smoke inside of buildings according to this law, but people are still getting harmed. When they walk on sidewalks and in public space, they are exposed to smoke. And these situation are also exist in South Seattle College. Therefore, South Seattle College should ban smoking in all forms on its campus for people’s health at school, for campus environment and also the cost related involved in health care and purchasing.

Clean air laws have been passed to diminish the injurious effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on non‐smokers by limiting or prohibition of smoking in designated public areas (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1986; Environmental Protection Agency, 1992). Clean air laws help in reducing exposure to second‐hand smoke, and they also reduce smoking rates. Limitations on smoking may reduce smoking by decreasing occasions to smoke and by modifying behavior changes towards smoking (Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). Smoking may be regulated at worksites, restaurants and other public places, such as grocery stores, shopping malls and public transit. Clean air laws in the US are usually applied at the state or local level. Many states, and local governments have implemented smoke free laws which protect the public specially children from secondhand smoke exposure at workplaces and indoor public spaces. These smoke free policies also help smokers quit and discourage adolescents from becoming smokers.

One of the founding principles of our country is that all people have the right to choose how he or she wants to live their life and treat their own body. However, any activity that causes harm to others, even if incidental, is neither warranted or justifiable. Some smokers tend to be indifferent to the repercussions they cause for other people by smoking in public. However, According to Outcomes Researcher Specialist, Paul H. Brodish, victims of passive smoking are just as susceptible to the many maladies linked to cigarette smoking, such as lung cancer, pneumonia, and bronchitis, as the person smoking. Furthermore, exposure to inhaled smoke, whether as the primary smoker or secondhand, also increases the risk of developing other health problems, such as stroke, coronary heart disease, various types of cancer including cervix, kidney, and colon cancer, as well as respiratory diseases (1).

The number of people suffering from secondhand smoke in UK and US has increased tremendously over the years. A lot of money which could have been used to start projects that will spearhead growth of the economy is being directed to treat these diseases. Majority of the affected population are young children. However, research has indicated that the largest number of these children emanates from family where none of the parent is a smoker. This is an indication that they inhale the cigarette smoke while on the streets and other public places such as restaurants (Sandford 2003). The government has a mandate of protecting its people. Young generation holds the future of these countries on their hands. As a result, every administration has a responsibility of protecting this generation. In an attempt to protect the whole population, these governments have come up with several measures that are aimed at reducing the exposure of the people to this kind of smoke (Callinan, Clarke & Kelleher 2010) The number of smokers in these countries is smaller compared to non-smokers. As a result, the governments are protecting the majority of the population through developing various strategies that will reduce the impact of cigarette smoke on the people.

People will argue banning smoking is impossible. People may have a lot of pressures and stress because of personal and economic problems. The reason people choose smoke because it can make them feel relax and refill energy while going through a hard time like busy work. In addition, people who smoke also create jobs and bring a huge profit to the government. They provide funds which are used for building hospitals, schools, and other public buildings. Despite this reason, it is just an excuse for the smoker. Smoking people claim that it helps release stress, but they forget about the negative aspects and resource of smoking outweigh the positive. Smoking is a big health hazard consequence for people who smoke and who don’t smoke. We all know that smokers have the right to choose what to do with their own health but if it affects to other people then it is not a personal problem anymore. Is smoking now will be a personal issue or social issue? Let see what Sue say about this.

Smoking is known to be one of the most dangerous medicine and can come with some seriously negative to one’s lungs. Research studies have shown that second- hand smoking can be equally as bad. According to the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report, “2.5 million adults who were nonsmokers died because they breathed secondhand smoke” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). To those who own restaurants, oversee public places, and others in charge of entertainment venues, pay special attention to the content in this paper. Smoking should be banned inside public restaurants and businesses as well as outside public parks and other places. It is important that people understand the damaging negative effects of smoking in public. My opponents might argue that smoking is only inhaled by the smoker himself, rather than others around him or her. However, as said before, second hand smoking is just as dangerous to the smoker and the people around. People need to understand that smoking can trigger others’ asthma and cause them to have an attack. Some argue that if businesses had signs outside their building saying that the venue is a smoking environment, than this would dismiss the asthma problem. However, even if businesses did display signs outside the buildings, this may drive customers away, resulting in failure of the businesses. Second hand smoking is dangerous, banning smoking in public places will reduce litter from

Smoking in public is a widely debated issue. While smoking is not a wise choice, it is a choice that should be left up to an individual. However, smoking in public puts the health of others at risk. Smoking in public is detrimental to both adults and children. To prevent the dangers of second hand smoke, smoking should be banned within fifty feet of public spaces.