Justifiable Measures to Curb the Effect of Smoking - Essay Example

What measures can justifiably be taken to curb the effect of smoking? 7/11 What measures can justifiably be taken to curb the effect of smoking?  The world is developing at a tremendous pace. We have succeeded in inventing the modern vehicles to be at ease while travelling, the modern machinery to help us complete our work accurately and speedily, built factories to increase production and still struggling to bring more changes in our lives. These are not the only sources of smoke in the environment as one important source of smoke these days is primarily considered to be a direct action of human beings. This source is from the cigarettes that the human beings use to produce smoke in the environment. Smoke from cigarettes is affecting not only the individuals who smoke but it is also affecting the environment and the individuals who are exposed to this smoke. Cigarettes alone are responsible for the waste of more human lives than collective danger of alcohol, accidents, suicidal crimes, AIDS and illegal drugs. Despite that, 21% of adults, 22% of high school students and 8% of middle school students smoke. One in five of all deaths every year in the United States have been credited to smoking, killing more than AIDS, suicide, alcohol, car accidents, homicide, and illegal drugs combined. Hence considering the health risks that smoking poses, it is essential that measures should be effectively taken to curb this global problem. Smoking is a global issue that needs to be dealt with and these measures are not only to be restricted to hotels and restaurants but this focus needs to be enlarged to encompass indoor and outdoor places. These measures serve to be very helpful and it has been proven by researches that there is a subsequent reduction in smokers as a result of this. The daily news reporter quoted in the year 2008 that the ban on smoking had led to 400000 people quitting smoking in England. The impact of the ban was not only restricted to this but it was also seen that there was a subsequent reduction in the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular problems. All this was the impact after the ban that came in England in year 2007 for smoking in public places as well as workplaces and other closed areas. This ban should not be restricted to just the public places but it should cover other aspects as well. It has been supported that a ban on smoking within the private vehicles should also be imposed. This ban is not only supported by non smokers but smokers also favor this ban. This is due to consideration of the fact that smoking within the car especially with children can prove to be harmful for them. Not only this, it can also pose a health risk for the other passengers in the car. Areas where children go for playing should also be made smoke free and smoking should be prohibited there. These bans should be supported with fines so that they are truly implemented. There should also be strict regulations on the cigarette sellers who offer cigarettes to the underage groups. A survey in Sweden also indicated the fact that the easy availability of cigarette should be restricted as this might also prove to be helpful for the reduction in the number of smokers as well as subsequent reduction in the passive smokers. Steps to overcome the issue on smoking have been in action since the last few decades of twentieth century after the risks that were posed by smoking were understood. To decrease the rate of smoking many countries started taking necessary steps as Bishop and Yoo (1985) declared that a surgeon’s general report in 1964, regarding the knowledge of severe health affect of smoking, showed a diminution in cigarette sales. Before the provision of this report, taxes fixed on cigarettes were intended just to raise the revenue on the sale of cigarettes. However, after the provision of the Surgeon General’s report, the taxes fixed on cigarettes had an additional purpose of discouraging cigarette smoking (Meier & Licari, 1997). With more understanding and development, it was realized that proper government intervention is essential in the creation and upholding of plans for the reduction smoking and its health related effects. This led to the implementation of bans in different countries and the trend was greatly followed with bans in public places, workplaces and public transport. Many countries started with the initiation of these programs. This led to a great reduction in the number of smokers. Hence the government has a very important role to play in curbing the problem of smoking. But not only this, family support is also very essential to overcome this problem. Hence awareness regarding this should also be spread that government bans along with family support can assist in the decrease in the number of smokers and save many lives. The primary focus of the government should be on the reduction of smokers to first create a smoke free environment but it should also secondarily work towards ways and methods to prevent non smokers from smoking. Increasing the number of taxes on cigarettes as well as the implementation of bans can prove to be useful for the purpose of discouraging the smokers from smoking and this fact has been proven as many smokers have quit smoking following these regulations. On the other hand proper education regarding the harmful effects of smoking among certain age groups can also prove to reduce the number of non smokers from smoking. Parents of school going children should be advised and taught to keep a proper watch on the children and discourage them from smoking. Smoking is a global issue which alone accounts for the death of 440,000 people annually in the United States. It poses health risks not only for those individuals who smoke but also for those who come into contact with this smoke. Many countries across the globe have taken a stand against this problem and states are justified to take measures to limit the spread of this wide spread issue. References: Daily Mail Reporter. “Smoking ban spurs 400,000 people to quit the habit.” 2008. Mail Online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1030575/Smoking-ban-spurs-400-000-people-quit-habit.html Doward, Jamie. “Smokers back extension of ban to play areas and cars carrying children” http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/27/smoking-ban-cars-with-children Goudie, Andrew. “The Human Impact on the Natural Environment.” 2000. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Meier, K J, and M J Licari. 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