Smoking in public places. should it be allowed or not?
By pratik87
@pratik87 (1927)
India
May 21, 2009 9:19am CST
Smoking is a practice where a substance, most commonly tobacco, is burned and the smoke tasted or inhaled. It is very common to see someone who smokes in public places, thus, this creates a conflict to many who do not want to smell the odour.
Non-smokers complain about people who are smoking in public places and insisted to ban it and just have a designated place to do smoking. They say it has a harmful effect that could damage their lungs without them doing it but by just smelling when someone around is smoking. Therefore, they say it's unfair to get ill because of something you haven't really done.
On the contrary, smokers feel that it should never be banned even in public places because it's one of their way to enjoy. They say that if it will be banned, then their rights are deprived.
Today, there are still so many people who smoke in public places. In my country, it is not prohibited at all.
What's your views about this? Do you think it smoking in public places should be banned or not?
14 people like this
44 responses
@faisai (1138)
• Hong Kong
21 May 09
Do me a favor. Ban it please.
The thing is that when the smokers are exercising their human rights in smoking, they are effectively killing my rights of not inhaling the smoke they are breathing out. Not that I am worried about the health problem is could cause me just by absorbing a small amount of the smoke. It is the smell that annoys me so much. I hate the smell. But I have no choice if somebody is smoking. They can opt to not smoke, but I cannot opt not to breathe, right?
2 people like this
@technoobs (406)
• Philippines
21 May 09
As it was scientifically proven that second hand smokers from smokers have greater risk of health rather those who smoke. That is why smoking in designated places should be strictly followed by those smokers that is to avoid the public for the health danger of smoking. Since I am a non-smoker, I respect those people who smoke therefore they should also respect to smoke in designated places. I really hate the smell.
2 people like this
@kriszelunka (557)
• Australia
24 May 09
I hate the smell of smoke, so I would be happy if smoking was banned in all public places. Already in Australia, we have some very good laws relating to this, and you are not able to smoke in restaurants, bars, most cafes, or public train stations.
Most work places also ban smoking in the vincinty of the workplace, which not only means that places of employement are smokefree, it also helps with increasing productivity, as people are not having a 'smoke' break every half hour.
1 person likes this
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
25 May 09
In the US, such things are controlled by the city and/or state, not the federal government. Many cities have banned smoking in all public places. Others have banned it in most, but not all, public places. The most frequent exception to the no smoking rule is for sports bars. The most recent proposal is to ban smoking in private cars when children are present. It is doubtful that that one will pass, though. Too many people consider that an infringement on their rights. There are seldom children in my car, but anyone who tries to smoke therein will be asked to walk.
1 person likes this
@pratik87 (1927)
• India
26 May 09
well the country where i live has laws against smoking in public too but it does not seem to make a big difference since people smoke anyways.hoe they will realize how they harm others by their act of smoking and stop someday.thanks for your response.happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
26 May 09
I don't think it shuld be allowed because those who don't smoke have to put up with something they may rather not smell and some people are allergic to the smoke. We always hear how bad second hand smoke is, why should we be subjected to it unnessarily?
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
21 May 09
Not. This is a no brainer. If a child has asthma and is entering a building with a parent even the SMELL of ciggarette can cause them to have an asthma attack. If we can not care about things like that as a society we can not live together in harmony in communities. Smokers inflict their smoke on everyone else. It is not a private act that isn't affecting others.
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
23 May 09
I do think it is fair to ban smoking in public places as it helps to protect individuals (except the smoker) from second hand smoke and also prevents air pollution. I do think smokers think it is not fair because ultimately it is their convenience that is compromised. I do believe there is still a smoking area around the banned area.
1 person likes this
@vicky30 (4766)
• India
27 Jun 09
Smoking in public places should not be allowed
.The smoker pollutes the air with his breadth.People standing near him are subject to passive smoking.People who breath the smoke in the air or passive smokers can get lung cancer very soon.People can smoke wen they like but they should do it in a private place.Here in India smoking is banned in public places but people still smoke.
.The smoker pollutes the air with his breadth.People standing near him are subject to passive smoking.People who breath the smoke in the air or passive smokers can get lung cancer very soon.People can smoke wen they like but they should do it in a private place.Here in India smoking is banned in public places but people still smoke.
@sweetashoney (3597)
• United States
21 May 09
I am a smoker but I think that smoking should be banned in some public places. I also think that this issue is taken to the extreme. I can see not smoking in places that a lot of people are around all the time. I just don't think you should have to go completely off of the property to smoke, no one is going to convince me that if a person is completely away from everyone, say at a designated area, that it is harming someone else.
1 person likes this
@callahanb78 (529)
• United States
23 May 09
I am back and forth with this....I do not smoke but my husband does. He normally when we are home will go outside and smoke as to avoid the smell throughout the house. We had our baby and he had trouble a few months back with breathing and take treatments with the neubulizer every once in a while so I keep him away when others are smoking....I like to take him out to public places...parks, malls, playareas, etc and there are sometimes parents that are smoking and while I would like to have them move farther away from us sometimes I dont want to tell them what they can and can not do or where they can go.
1 person likes this
@yoyozhou (356)
• China
21 May 09
In my opinion,it should be banned. One reason is that it is for sure unfair to the non-smokers.It is reported smelling smoke is more harmful to our health and easier to get lung cancer. Why non-smokers should pay for smokers? In my country smoking in public places is allowed even in the restaurants. The shopers just want money without considering customers health. I think the smokers themselves should be aware of how they do harm to others when they enjoy life. I mean they can smoke but they should find a place where no one will be influenced.And the related insisitutions should publicize the issue.
1 person likes this
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
22 May 09
Smoking should not be allowed in public, I am sorry but it is a gross habit and it can kill you as well as me or anyone around you. I am against it 100%. As someone with lung issues, with children that were born premature and therefore have issues their lungs as well, I have a right to be able to go out in public and not have my life put into danger because someone else choices to smoke.
I remember being at a sporting event in the late 80's and sitting by someone whom smoked, he chain smoked. It was a high school football game, in which smoking was prohibited. after half time and my having three asthma attacks I looked at him and said I am sorry but you seem to have a very nasty habit of smoking, I have a nasty habit of spitting for now on every time you take a puff I will spit on you. guess what he went the rest of the game with out smoking and i did not have to make a trip to the ER.
Smoking is not a right, my breathing is and my children not having their life put in danger is.
@dUKe0912 (98)
• India
22 May 09
From your name, I would assume that you are Indian.
If you are, you're quite wrong in saying that public smoking is not prohibited in India.
I am not aware of laws in other states, but in Maharashtra, public smoking is prohibited, although this law is often prohibited.
@dianamunoz1 (125)
• United States
22 May 09
I dont think so because the person that is smoking made the choice to smoke so I and other people should have the choice as to not inhale the tabacco why should I pay for others peoples decisions with my health
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 May 09
I don't think there's ever one solution that is acceptable to everyone on an issue as prominent as smoking, pratik. It is against human nature for us all to agree on on things. As a smoker I do understand the other side of the debate, and I don't have a problem with having a designated smoking area in public places, but I do draw the line when I am being deprived of my rights. My right to smoke is just as important to me as non-smoker's right not to smoke. It seems fair to have both smoking and non-smoking areas in public spaces.
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
31 May 09
I have no problem with some of the bannings that have taken place with the smoking issue but I don't agree with it being banned in all public places. I have NEVER been a smoker myself and don't even like the smell of it, but I do think you are infringing on the rights of the smokers by banning smoking in all public places. I agree that places like schools and hospitals should NOT have smoking in them, even in designated areas, but other public places should have smoking allowed, at least in a designated area.
@cortney09 (1345)
• United States
22 May 09
This is a hard subject for me to answer on. I quit smoking five years ago. I think that there should be bans on smoking inside public places as well as within so many feet of the building. I mean I choose not to harm my body anymore by smoking, so I don't think I should be forced to be around the harmful effects of it. I am not saying banning smoking altogether, just banning it in public places.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
6 Jun 09
I think smoking should be allowed in public places because there are places in America where smoking is allowed and there are places where it is not. If you don't like the smell of smoking or don't like being around smokers then don't go to a place that allows smoking. It's just like a smoker wanting to smoke in a place they can't they have to go somewhere where they are comfortable with their surroundings. Why shouldn't non-smokers have to do that as well?
@csrobins (1120)
• United States
22 May 09
Because of the harmful effects yeah, it should be banned. Nothing against the smokers...I used to be on emyslef, nut other people shouldn't have to suffer at teh expense of someone else needing to get their daily additive in public. I think that is the only reason though. If it were because of the smell only well taht would be a matter of opinion and it shouldn't be banned, but science has shown it is not healthy for oters-even those who don't!
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
13 Jun 09
Yes, I do think there should be a ban on smoking in public place. It is harmful to the person smoking which is their choice but the people who do not smoke and do not want to breathe in the smoke have no choice if the smoker is smoking in public places. Most places have a place for smokers the smoker and if they do not then as long as they are 25 feet or more from the entrance of the establishment they can smoke. I do see many smoker using do this.
