Smoking in the Public Place - Essay Example

Smoking in the Public Place Smoking in the public place has been a matter of dispute for quite some time. While health officials and social activists claim that this cannot be allowed on various grounds, smokers insist on their right for a few puffs of smoke in sunny and warm places. It seems to me that cigarette smoking itself is a highly unhealthy activity, and hence, allowing the same in public places is totally out of the question. The first reason why smoking should not be allowed in public places is that smoking is not different from substance abuse. As everybody knows cigarette contains a highly addictive substance called Nicotine. This substance has the power to stimulate a person’s mind immediately. However, it creates addiction in a short time. It is a known fact that there is no known government in the world, which allows substance abuse. If this is the case, it is highly irrational to even claim that cigarette should not be banned. So, there is no question of allowing smoking in the public place too. Secondly, if this point is further elaborated, one can undoubtedly say that allowing smoking is similar to legalizing suicide. This is so because through smoking, one is inflicting serious harm on oneself. In a simple example, cigarette smoking can be compared to a self-immolation bid. While the former involves trying to energize oneself or trying to get rid of a tension for the short term, the latter involves getting rid of a problem by destroying oneself. Though the first one does not seem as serious as the other one is, both involve killing oneself in the short or long term. Thus, as far as suicide is not allowed, smoking too deserves to be prohibited; not only in public places but also in the whole country. Yet another point supporting my argument is that smoking is more harmful to non-smokers than to smokers. The reality is that the carbon monoxide and other particles emitted by smokers are inhaled by the people nearby. According to researches, this ‘passive smoking’ is more harmful than active smoking. Thus, though smokers can claim that they have the fundamental right to smoke in public places, they cannot deny the fact that their rights do not go to the extent of causing harm to others. Thus, as far as passive smoking is a heath hazard for the general public, it cannot and must not be allowed. The next main argument I would like to put forward at this point is the way smoking in public places will affect the young minds. It is an accepted fact that most youngsters resort to smoking not because they really feel to do it but because they think it is a way of creating ones own identity in the society. In other words, for a considerable proportion of young smokers, the habit is just a matter of image or acceptability in the peer group. Thus, allowing smoking in public places is similar to setting a bad example for the young people to follow. Thus, it becomes evident that when youngsters get constant exposure to smoking from the very beginning of their lives, they are highly likely to become smokers as they grow up. Moreover, seeing smoking as a part of their everyday lives will make young people develop a positive attitude towards smoking. Thus, though it is possible for smokers to argue that they have the right to enjoy a social life, they cannot enjoy their social life to the extent of disturbing the lives of other people. Admittedly, there are people who claim that smoking in the workplace is highly beneficial in terms of enhancing creativity and killing boredom, thus raising productivity. It is an accepted fact that Nicotine in cigarettes has the power to give a short-lived boost to the energy levels of a person. Thus, the person may experience an improvement in his or her energy levels. However, the mere fact is that once get addicted, the person will have to smoke every time he or she wants to get a boost to energy levels. Moreover, the non-smoking workers in the offices will witness a decline in their creativity and productivity as they are disturbed by the smoky atmosphere. This smoky atmosphere will create a number of health problems like breathing difficulties and headache in the short term, and more serious problems like lung cancer in the long term. Thus, if a company resorts to allowing smoking, it will see a decline in the satisfaction of its non-smoking employees. Another argument is that public places like pubs and parks have a very vital role to play in retaining and promoting community feeling in a society. These are the places where people often meet each other communicate. So, such places are supposed to be kept as tidy as possible. In addition, these are the places which are firstly noticed by a foreigner who visits that country or area. That means allowing smoking will impact the quality of socialization on one hand, and on the other, it will give the society a negative image in the world. The mere fact is that smoking deserves to be banned; not only in public places but also at homes. This is so because when parents smoke at home, children are the ones who are exposed to the harmful effects of passive smoking. Thus, even when smoking is prohibited in public places, the problems created by smoking will continue haunting the society as far as smoking is not totally banned. Thus, it becomes evident that to get a positive change in this connection it is highly necessary to ban cigarettes; not just smoking. In total, it becomes evident that smoking has not positive points in its favor. Moreover, smoking cannot be considered different from substance abuse and suicide. Thus, as far as these all are considered evils in the society, there are no ethical or legal points to support smoking in the public place. Thus, it becomes evident that smoking deserves to be banned in public places. Read More