The Problem and History of Tobacco Smoking in Florida - Case Study Example

Florida is a land of swaying palm trees and warm ocean breeze. It is quite flat with a rolling landscape. Many people enjoy living in the Florida is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. Florida grows and many problems grow too: there are many retired people, that's why the state needs more health services; there are many inhabitants under age 18, so the government needs more money for schools; Florida is getting bigger and bigger, that's why local authorities must think about the needs of the state's growing urban areas, and there is one more vital problem - smoking ban in this state and is the current smoking ban in Florida a violation of a smoker's right' It can be supposed that Florida was cursed many centuries ago, because the problem of smoking and tobacco has an ancient history: although small amounts of nicotine may be found in some Old World plants, including belladonna and Nicotiana Africana, and nicotine metabolites have been found in human remains and pipes in the Near East and Africa, there is no indication of habitual tobacco use in the Ancient world, on any continent save the Americas; 6000 BCE: Experts believe the tobacco plant, as we know it today, begins growing in the Americas; 1 BCE: American inhabitants have begun finding ways to use tobacco, including smoking (in a number of variations), chewing and in probably hallucinogenic enemas (by the Peruvian Aguaruna aboriginals).(5) And 1492 - the history of Columbus, he discovered Tobacco: "Certain Dried Leaves" are Received as Gifts, and Thrown Away. On this bright morning Columbus and his men set foot on the New World for the first time, landing on the beach of San Salvador Island or Samana Cay in the Bahamas, or Gran Turk Island. The indigenous Arawaks, possibly thinking the strange visitors divine, offer gifts. Columbus wrote in his journal, the natives brought fruit, wooden spears, and certain dried leaves which gave off a distinct fragrance. As each item seemed much-prized by the natives; Columbus accepted the gifts and ordered them brought back to the ship. The fruit was eaten; the pungent "dried leaves" were thrown away. But then Columbus mentions it: "We found a man in a canoe going from Santa Maria to Fernandia. He had with him some dried leaves which are in high value among them, for a quantity of it was brought to me at San Salvador."(5) So, the history of smoking ban had begun by that time. With the development of human history, its evolution in education: literature, sociology, science, medicine, there is a permanent resistance between smokers and non-smokers, and the smoking ban has been existed for a long time. Smoking bans in Florida are government prohibitions on tobacco smoking in public indoor places such as offices, restaurants, hotels even outdoor public areas: parks and yards, sports stadiums. One of the outright bans is sale's prohibition of tobacco to minors, or minors under a certain age. Health statistics insist on statement that tobacco smoking is often fatal for smokers and also for non-smokers, because there is a health risk of passive smoking, but there is an argument for smoking: no adults are subjected to the tobacco smoking without their consent. Florida is one of the states in the USA that have banned smoking from all workplaces. The state has already taken steps to protect nonsmokers. In 1985 Florida passed a law confining smoking to designated smoking areas in most public places. It also established no-smoking areas in restaurants that seated 50 or more people. The next referendum was approved by voters in the November 5, 2002 election to amend the Florida Constitution to "protect people from the health hazards of second-hand tobacco smoke". With very limited exceptions, the measured bars tobacco smoke from all enclosed indoor workplaces, these enclosed workplaces are defined as any place that is bounded by physical barriers where one or more persons engages in work. (1) And in July 1, 2003 the authority of the State of Florida enacted new legislation prohibiting smoking of any kind in any enclosed indoor workplace. According to this Act employers are required to develop and implement policies of the smoking prohibitions and required to post signs prohibiting smoking in all enclosed areas. The amendment does not apply to: private residences that do not provide child care, adult care, or health care; private or commercial vehicles; tobacco shops; designated smoking guest rooms in hotels; and "stand alone" bars that provide only incidental amounts of food and do not share a common entrance with a restaurant or other workplace. The legislation of smoking has changed the policy of Florida: the policy must protect employees and others from smoking in the enclosed indoor workplace and should also address measures to be taken when an employer becomes aware of a violation. An employer who fails to meet the requirements of the amended legislation faces civil penalties including fines and the filing of a complaint by the Department of Health, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, or the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Well, Florida has a very strict smoking ban law, and first of all "It was working for the kids, the rates were falling and we were actually the only state in the country that had lowered its high school and middle school rates of smoking," said Kurt Goerke, director for the lung association's Gulf Coast region in Fort Myers. Due to the lung association, between 1998 and 2003, Florida's tobacco control program resulted in a 58 percent decrease in smoking among middle school students and a 37 percent decrease among high school students.(2) There are two viewpoints according to this question: 1) non-smokers think that this law is for healthy lifestyle in the society, because some of them say: "It's a great idea ' smokers should respect the rights of nonsmokers. A lot of children have medical problems like bronchitis and asthma, and they don't need to be exposed to that". (2) This law includes anti-smoking campaign directed toward children; children's health insurance programs; and health services. And C.J. Drake, spokesman for Smoke-Free for Health, supports this idea: "We're not telling people they can't smoke. We're just telling people; please don't smoke in a place where it's likely to affect the health of a nonsmoker." Despite nonsmoking sections in restaurants, they do not protect customers from smoke. (2) Different non-smokers groups and associations confirm that the law isn't just for health, it also produces healthy profits, and Florida's smoking ban is good for business: "There is no evidence that any restaurants have closed because of the smoking ban. In fact, there are more restaurants today than when Smoke-Free for Health Amendment went into effect". (1) 2) Well, now about the smokers, they speak about their rights: smoking is an individual's right, his or her choice and his or her responsibility. And they consider the following: if a person wants to smoke and eats at the same time ' why not, because it is private persons' rights, individuals' property and they should be protected. So, there are two ideas: private property and public property. Private property is the rights of a private owner, and public property belongs to the public. And Government organizations represent the interests of the public, of the society, so there is a problem in this statement, because some non-smokers think that private businesses belong to the public and they can control this property. Anti smokers know that they can choose to supporting businesses that allow smoking or not. They know that they may patronize businesses that choose to ban smoking. But that is not enough for them, because those supporting smoking want to know: Do non-smokers not recognize the importance of respecting people's right to control their own property' Do they not recognize the value of freedom' The anti-smoking groups' wishes should not take precedence over the rights of private citizens. When one person's wishes are allowed to infringe another individual's rights, then as a result of it all human rights can easily be swept away, and there is no protection from the tyranny of the majority. In some workplaces smoking bans are too strong and can lead to dismissal. There is an example of a violation of a smoker's rights: A person was fired because he was smoking off-duty at a party and he had signed a contract pledging not to use tobacco, according to news reports. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has banned smokers from its pool of new hires since last fall. Also, prospective deputies undergo polygraph questioning about smoking and are tested for nicotine during a physical. If an applicant fails, he or she must wait six months before seeking employment again, said sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen. "We're talking about what people do on their own time, in their own back yards. On some days, people might like to pig out on their couch watching football with a quart of ice cream." (2) The examples mentioned above have shown that the current smoking ban in Florida is a violation of a smoker's right. The new law highly limits smoking in hotels, restaurants and bars. But smokers, speaking of Florida, may well say, "At least it is better here than in California or New York." Because there is another situation in Tampa, Tampa police Chief Steve Hogue announced that fitness would be a priority. He required every employee with a badge to pass a physical agility test within a month of his arrival. And the Tampa Police Department has no restrictions on smoking, said spokesman Joe Durkin. (2) And it is necessary to speak about opinions ordinary smokers, not employees, what do they think about smoking ban' There are some examples: "I'm not condoning smoking. I'm condoning people's rights. Isn't that what the United States is' Isn't freedom of choice what America is all about' What's next, you can't be blond on Mondays'" "It's good to see somebody fight. As adults, you should be able to choose. Everybody has rights." A fight for my personal rights.(3) So, those supporting tobacco and smoking are dedicated to save an essential part of America's history and future: when any or freedoms are taken away, all of the freedoms are at risk. Some people are sure that they can not enjoy themselves at work, in their cars, or in the privacy of their own home. Well, smoke or not smoke - it is a personal right. And everybody must respect the rights of each other; non-smokers should understand the problems of smokers and if smokers want "to kill" themselves by tobacco and smoking it is their desire and decision, but they also must respect people around them. And all the participants of the smoking ban in Florida, the Government, smokers and non-smokers, should define the ways of existing: smokers have not been hired because of their habits and non-smokers need to have healthy life. Woks cited 1. C.Krueger. Groups Push For Tobacco Ban in Florida's Workplaces. http://www.sptimes.com/News/102301/news_pf/State/Groups_push_to_outlaw.shtml Sh. Ccolavecchio-Van Sickler and A. Leary. Tobacco bans could block the way to badges. http://www.forceskentucky.us/modules.php'name=News&file=article&sid=216 Smoking Banned in Florida's Workplaces. http://universitypress.collegepublisher.com/media/paper518/news/2003/02/06/Entertainment/Smoking.Banned.In.Floridas.Workplaces-358977.shtml 2. Clean Air Anniversary Cause for Celebration. http://www.smokefreeforhealth.org/ 3. History of Tobacco. http://www.superebates.com/historyoftobacco1.htm Read More