Why Smoking Should Be Banned in Public Places - Research Paper Example

The argument of why smoking should be banned in public places Tobacco its self can be traced back as far as 1 B.C. but the act of smoking tobacco has also been around for quite some time. In fact, accounts of its use and history can be traced as far back as 1492. (Randall, V. 1999) Smoking can be considered a hobby, a passed time, a way to relax someone’s nerves, a way to think, an addiction and more, and because of these reasons, smoking as become part of the lives of many individuals. So much so that they choose to smoke despite warnings regarding its negative effects, physical signs of smoking that have taken its toll on the body, and rules against smoking. Most of us already know about its negative effects but decide to smoke anyway; when we can, and wherever we can. Tobacco smokers go from habitual smokers to chain smokers and tobacco or nicotine dependents in a relatively easy fashion and because of this, the urge to smoke may come at anytime, in any location or situation. People tend to smoke in open air or ventilated places such as in parks, outside the office, after eating, or generally any place they are that does not have a “no smoking” sign. This now brings us to the main problem or argument of this paper; banning or disallowing smoking in public places. Despite this idea getting its share of criticism, it remains to be one of the best ideas. It has its good share of valid reasons and rationalizations as to why it should be implemented and this paper is dedicated to listing some of these ideas down. The paper will focus on reasons as to why smoking should be banned in public places which are supported by fact and not merely by emotional argument. It will attempt to lay down these reasons in a very objective manner, and present supporting documentation along with them. The paper’s argument is divided into several different angles as to why smoking in public places should be banned such as: Medical reasons for banning smoking Alternatives to smoking in public Economical or financial arguments on banning smoking Final thoughts Medical reasons for banning smoking This section of the paper focuses on medical reasons for banning smoking, both for the smokers and for the non-smokers around them. There are many health related concerns regarding smoking in general, but more so when done in a public place where there are more people affected by the smoke. One of the concerns regarding smoking as a whole is that for the smokers, direct contact with tobacco smoke either causes or promotes lung cancer. This is bad enough but according to msn.com, secondhand smoke is “a cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers”. (MSN, 2006) This means that despite a non-smoker attempting to live healthy, eating right, avoiding destructive acts to the body and generally living well, they are still at a risk for lung cancer because of second hand smoke. Aside from this, the same article also says that secondhand smoke is “linked to secondhand smoke to heart disease and other illnesses”. This makes smoking just as dangerous to non-smokers as it is to smokers. This is so much so that “secondhand smoke kills about 3,400 nonsmoking Americans annually from lung cancer, 46,000 from heart disease, and 430 from SIDS.” (MSN, 2006) Attention should also be placed toward children who are also affected by secondhand smoke. Many places such as parks, playgrounds and streets are often filled with children who are looking to have a good time or play with their friends. The problem comes in when either their parent, guardian or even an adult that they do not know is also at that same location and smokes. These children are more easily affected by the smoke than adults and as a result, are more in danger of the smoke, in terms of health. There are several effects that smoking in front of children might cause including asthma aggravation, heart issues, and may even encourage them to smoke when they grow up. This is especially true if the child’s parents are the ones smoking near or around their child. An article on medicalnewstoday.com says “Parents who smoke in cars with small children as passengers are "committing a form of child abuse". (Nordqvist, C.2010) The information above shows us that its not just smokers who risk their health when they smoke in public, but rather, non-smokers are at risk as well. In fact, no-smokers are susceptible to most of the same health problems related to smoking as the smokers are. This also means that the smokers are no longer just endangering themselves but rather put their family, friends, and even people they do not know at risk of health issues. This makes smoking in public places a dangerous activity for non-smokers like children, pregnant people, elderly and people with health issues. Alternatives to smoking in public In this section, the paper will present some alternatives to smoking which can be done in public, incase smokers have a very difficult time with refraining from smoking. The paper realizes that it can be very difficult for a smoker to resist the urge to smoke, especially when he is not doing anything for a given time. This is why the paper will preset realistic alternatives to smoking which are less harmful to both the smoker and the non-smokers around him. This section will focus on 2 types of alternatives to smoking, one which can be done in public and the other, done in the comfort of the home or a clinic/ therapy center. One of the first alternatives to smoking which can be done in public places is quite popular nowadays. This is the electronic cigarette or E-cigarette. According to an article on hubpages regarding e cigarettes, “Currently e-cigarettes can be used in public places where cigarette smoking is not allowed.” This makes it a great alternative for smokers who have a hard time quitting or suppressing their urges to smoke. It is also generally considered a safer alternative to smoking. (Penn, K. 2012) Another alternative to smoking in public is sugar-free gum. It is a great way to divert your urge to smoke and it calms your oral fixations. According to an article on guylife.com, “scientists have found that it's not just the nicotine in cigarettes that gets people hooked--it's the oral fixation” This means that its not just the nicotine that we have to worry about, but the familiar feeling of something in your mouth such as the cigarette. (Kalan, H, 2012) Yet another alternative to smoking in public is the flavored toothpick. Similar to the gum, it also keeps your mouth busy and keeps you urge to smoke in check. According to the same article above “They are designed to curb a craving for cigarettes”. (Kalan, H, 2012) The last 2 alternatives to cigarette smoking in public can be considered great distractions from smoking cravings. These are dark chocolate and the nicotine patch. These alternatives give your mind something to think about and at the same time, divert focus from smoking. All of the above alternatives are great for alternatives to smoking in public, but there are also some alternatives that can be done in the comfort of your home, which reduce your smoke cravings while you are in public. One of these “smoking alternatives” is yoga. According to the same article on guylife.com, this is a great way to relieve smoke cravings. It is quite known that some people tend to smoke when they are stressed and according to the article “Yoga is one of the best alternatives to smoking, especially for those who tend to smoke when they're stressed or tired.” (Kalan, H, 2012) Another option to try is hypnosis. This is a technique that attempts to implant a suggestion in you to avoid smoking. According to medicinenet.com, “Along with weight management, smoking cessation is the most popular medical use of hypnosis.” It also states that the state in which people are in when they are under hypnosis allows for their brains to be more susceptible to suggestion and “weaken their craving for cigarettes and strengthen their will to stop.” This method is great for those smokers who are fine with trying alternative methods of quitting or reducing their smoke cravings, where other methods may have failed. This is also a very good approach to making smokers avoid smoking in public, and in the long run, maybe even quit. (Penn, K., 2012) Another alternative method to reduce smoking is guided imagery. This is a technique similar to hypnosis where, according to the same article above, “individuals enter a state of relaxation and then create mental pictures that help tap into their unconscious mind and reprogram the nervous system to resist the temptation to smoke.” (Penn, K., 2012) The article says that this is a great method to prepare the smoker in quitting. This is another alternative method that although some may doubt or even disbelieve, may actually work, especially for those who have tried other methods. One more method is acupuncture. One again, according to medicinenet.com, people who have tried acupuncture to reduce smoking, has actually done so, and many have quit altogether. It states “In a study at the University of Oslo in Norway, published in the journal Preventive Medicine in 2002, participants who had smoked for an average of 23 years were given acupuncture treatments, with needles inserted at points believed to influence organs associated with smoking…” and for these participants, many had lower desires to smoke and even quit, compared to a control group. (Penn, K., 2012) The last option to try is fairly new, and can be seen as a more medical approach to quitting. This is the nicotine vaccination. This type of method, according to the same article above, “stimulates the body's own immune system to block nicotine molecules from reaching the brain, and thus interfering with the addictive process, including the triggering of nicotine cravings.” (Penn, K., 2012) This approach is also long term since the effects of a shot may last up to a year. Economical or financial arguments on banning smoking Many argue that banning of smoking in public places such as bars, pool halls, restaurants, and the like, would cause these businesses to lose customers and eventually, lose revenue or close down. This section of the paper is dedicated to addressing this concern and presenting information regarding the economic or financial arguments on banning smoking. One of the articles that concern its self with the economic impact of the smoking ban is by Jonathan T. Tomlin. According to this article, “Well over 100 empirical studies have attempted to examine the economic impact of smoking bans on the hospitality industry” now based on these studies, the article states that “Most of these studies purport to show that smoking bans do not have adverse economic impacts on bars and restaurants, and some actually claim to demonstrate that they improve their profitability.” (2012) This shows us that not only is the smoking ban not a bad thing, but in fact it may even have positive effects on such businesses. This shows us that the concern of these businesses or their owners is actually a strength waiting to happen. Another argument is regarding healthcare. Of course, people who smoke are also the ones who need healthcare more that non-smokers, and this also means that the smokers spend more on healthcare than non-smokers. According to a study by sciencedirect.com, “Smoking bans in public places and workplaces are significantly associated with a reduction in AMI incidence, particularly if enforced over several years.” (Meyers, D., Neuberger, J., He, J, 2009) This means that companies who do not allow smoking also spend less on employ;yees for healthcare issues, and therefore are also able to save more from their income. Final thoughts Based on the evidence and information above, as well as the supporting studies referenced in the paper, the smoking ban is a benefit on all angles associated with it. This includes health related benefits both for smokers, and non-smokers alike, as they are both affected by public smoking. This also has a positive effect on children whose parents smoke. Another benefit is to the business industry, who will actually stand to gain in banning smoking from their businesses. Healthcare can also benefit as the reduced cost on smoking related illness can give way to spending more on other diseases. It may also be able to save companies on healthcare cost of employees who smoke, and this is also true for people who use public healthcare, as the government does not need to spend as much on smoke related issues. Referencing BBC.co.uk. “New York's outdoor smoking ban: Will the world follow?”. 23 May 2011. Web. 1 May 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13467728  Gallup, A. and Newport F. “The Gallup Poll. Public Opinion 2005”. 2007. Web. 1 May 2012. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=WOug0pzW6_IC&pg=PA269&dq=smoking+ban+public+places&hl=en&ei=JQSBT5qKOsHIrQfIhPyCBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=6&ved=0CFEQ6wEwBQ#v=onepage&q=smoking%20ban%20public%20places&f=false  Haustein, K. and Groneberg, D. “Tobacco Or Health?: Physiological and Social Damages Caused by Tobacco Smoking”. 2010. Web. 1 May 2012. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=0LwacNjXL_gC&pg=PA403&dq=smoking+ban+public+places&hl=en&ei=JQSBT5qKOsHIrQfIhPyCBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=3&ved=0CD8Q6wEwAg#v=onepage&q=smoking%20ban%20public%20places&f=false  Kalan, H. “5 Healthy Alternatives To Smoking”. 20 September 2011. Web. 1 May 2012 http://guylife.com/photogallery-tips/5-healthy-alternatives-to-smoking/5829 Meyers, D., Neuberger, J., He, J. “Cardiovascular Effect of Bans on Smoking in Public Places: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”. 22 September 2009. Web. 1 May 2012. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109709025121  MSNbc.com. “Report: Ban smoking in public places. Surgeon general says 126 million nonsmokers exposed to tobacco hazards”. 27 June 2006. Web. 1 May 2012. http://www.msnbc.msn.com Nordqvist, C. “Smoking In Front Of Kids And Giving Them Junk Foods Condemns Them To A Life Of Diseases, And Even Premature Death”. 08 August 2010. Web. 1 May 2012. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/197208.php Penn, K. “E-Cigarettes: Can help you cut back or maybe even quit smoking”. 2012. Web. 1 May 2012. http://kcpenn48.hubpages.com/hub/E-CigarettesCanhelpyoucutbackormaybeevenquitsmoking Randall, V. “History of Tobacco”. 31 August 1999. Web. 1 May 2012. http://academic.udayton.edu/health/syllabi/tobacco/history.htm#begin smoking.ygoy.com. “How Parental Smoking Influences the Children?”. 2012. Web. 1 May 2012. http://smoking.ygoy.com/how-parental-smoking-influences-the-children/ Tomlin, J. “The Economic Impact Of Smoking Bans”. 04 June 2009. Web. 1 May 2012. http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/04/economic-impact-bars-restaurants-opinions-contributors-smoking-ban.html Trubo, R. “Alternatives for Giving Up Cigarettes”. 6 January 2005. Web. 1 May 2012. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52301 Read More