Smoking Ban in Public Places
By redphile
@redphile (2264)
Philippines
August 16, 2011 10:52pm CST
Here in our place, smoking is already banned in public places, and there would just be designated areas where smoking will be allowed. This is a good idea from the government because it will help lessen pollution and protect those non-smokers as well (like me!) from second hand smoke, which is more dangerous than first hand smoke, as they say.
There was also an rule in Starbucks coffee shops that smoking is not allowed anymore which devastated a lot of smokers and coffee drinkers alike. But then recently it was taken back, and they have put up an area where smoking is possible without disturbing the coffee drinkers alone.
I think this should be implemented in all places, anywhere, because it will help you control yourself if you are a smoker, and protect our clean air and non smokers, in addition to pregnant women and children too.
Your thoughts?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
22 Aug 11
I quit years ago. We have had the smoking BAN her for a few years her now. But that is all it is, a Ban not a law. A ban can be overturned. The pubs here took a big hit here when the ban was introduced.
I was always a responsible smoker and I would always abide by the ban, even before that I would be considerate to non smokers
But there is no such thing as a no smoking law, as yet !
@redphile (2264)
• Philippines
22 Aug 11
Why would I joke about it?
Good for you if you are not smoking anymore.
This is a new law being implemented and if you do not want to be controlled as a smoker then that is your decision. But if there is a law or if smoking is banned in public places, then for it to be successful, people should be responsible and abide by the law.
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@Meetykooner (61)
• India
18 Aug 11
In my area smoking in public places in banned but some do in front of police and last day i visit to goverment rajindra hospital for my friends treatment and there i saw the police man was smoking in the enterance point of hospitals wards it was very ambarisng .govermnt have to restrict about everyone who smoke in public places i feel ashamed what to do now if the policeman is smoking in hospital then who will stop others ...they have to provide some place far from city where they can smoke if they are damn addicted to smoking hut not in public places it was very harmful thing for our society ..i saw everywhere people are smoking in publich places even in buses trains .. This is banned in our area i am living in punjab but they are not taking any action against who smoke in public places goverment should take a hard step to stop this ...
@redphile (2264)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
It is embarrassing that police officials themselves are not following the law, same thing applies if its a government official or someone tied to the government. How can the people follow the law if the lawmakers themselves are not respecting it? The public is composed of different kinds of personalities, smokers and non smokers, so we should all respect each other's preference and go towards the good for the many.
@sanapal_bhar (213)
• India
17 Aug 11
yes you are right my friend , but till some people do so ,where that has not to be done for example in trains,buses etc.i hate them.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
17 Aug 11
There is a setback to the MMDA's plan to get rid of smoking in public places. The setback was due to a TRO issued by a court for the MMDA to cease apprehending smokers in the main thoroughfares. Apparently, the MMDA apprehended two people who happened to be lawyers. These two lawyers went to court and questioned the legality of what the MMDA is doing thus the issuance of the retraining order. Now it seems that the court is now protecting the rights of the smokers, what about the rights of the non smokers?
@redphile (2264)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
I have heard about that and they are just lucky that they are lawyers and know how to defend themselves. However, if they are good lawyers, they should be following the law right and should not have been apprehended in the first place. What a shame.
They are saying that MMDA does not have the police authority to implement such law and apprehend non-followers. But I read a news article that even the president is actually following this policy, how come these lawyers cannot right?
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
17 Aug 11
With reference to your topic discussion, it is indeed good to know that the Philippine Government is taking action on this matter. So as to prevent air pollution. However, perhaps the Government should also think of some measure how to encourage smokers not to smoke anymore. So as not just banning them on public places. Hence, smoking is not easy to stop at all.
Thus, we should respect one another. The Government's new rule and those people who cannot really stop smoking quickly.
@redphile (2264)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
Yup I agree with you when you said that smoking is not an easy thing to stop. Well, they would need to implement more programs to encourage smokers to stop. But this rule is one step that may help lessen the tendency of smokers to do it in places where there are a lot of people that maybe affected.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I think we should ban the wearing of perfume in public places because I don't like the smell and some people get very sick from the smell. All products that contain a fragrance should be banned. I get a skin reaction to some of the chemicals that are used to create the fragrances. If smoking is so bad then just outlaw it, but the governments will not do that because smoking produces a lot of revenue for the government.
Several years ago I was diagnosed with asthma and the Dr asked me if I smoked, I said no, he then asked me if I was around people who smoked and again I said no. His response was "then I don't know what causes your Asthma". The truth is they don't know if it causes lung disease. There is a large number of people who die from lung cancer that do not smoke or are not around smokers. There are also many very old people who smoke and do not get lung cancer. The government should not be controlling our lives like this. The airlines went smoke free because that is what their customers wanted. Restaurants and bars went smoke free because their customers wanted it. What about the people who want ot go out to eat and enjoy a smoke shouldn't they have the right to do that?
What is next telling us that we can not have fried foods- in some communities we can't, or maybe they will decide that we have to wear only cotton clothing because it is natural and some people do not like the feel of wool. Be Careful when you start supporting the banning of one thing because you will have to look over your shoulder to see what will be next.
@stojan (18)
• Bulgaria
26 May 12
I am a non smoker but I think that there should be more balanced rules on smoking in public places. In my country it will be absolutely banned from July even on stadiums, bus stops and parks. I think it is kind of discriminating the ones that are smoking. That's not so hard to allow smoking on certain areas on public places. For example there should be separate areas in the restaurants for smokers and non smokers so everyone can decide where to sit. Also separate sectors in the stadiums and so on. Most of the space in public places would still be free from smoke but people who smoke would have the possibility to do so.
@Princessjn764 (76)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I am a non-smoker but I think it should up to the establishment whether they allow smoking or not. When the smoking ban was passed here they weren't able to enforce it till like a year later because they didn't have the laws in the place. (Makes no sense but whatever) and it seemed like half the public places allowed it and half didn't.
@redphile (2264)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
Well it really depends on the government how they should implement a law that everyone will be able to abide. You also have a point there that the establishment should be given the authority to allow smoking or not, but then if it will not be implemented by all, not many will benefit from it.
@HeartROB (434)
• Philippines
17 Aug 11
I agree to that, because when someone is smoking carelessly in the public it would be really unfair to us non-smokers. As what you have said, you are really absolutely right about saying it is more dangerous to us second hand smokers than those who actually somke. Maybe it is about time to make those smokers to take responsibilities on there own actions. Really hate smokers, they are just simply annoying.
@redphile (2264)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
It definitely is harmful to everyone within the area may it be a smoker or not. Dangerous to second smokers and also to first hand, as long as anyone is inhaling the same air that is already polluted, it will be harmful for everyone. Ahahah, I can feel that you really hate smokers huh? Well, I have a lot of friends who are smokers but then I go away if they wanna smoke, and would continuously tell them that smoking kills.
@scjbxz (139)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I believe that smoking should be banned in public places. I know that the majority of people can't just up and quit, so having specific areas sectioned out for smokers would be decent. It's really horrible sometimes, when you walk right past a smoker and they blow the smoke right into your face. Secondhand smoke is supposedly more dangerous than smoking itself. I don't think people should be allowed to smoke at all in public places due to the fact that there are children, babies, and others that may be affected by smoking out and about.
@redphile (2264)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
Well, I think it would definitely be a difficult task to ban smoking in public places, a lot would be disagreeing and I know a lot have been fighting as well to ban it. Smokers should just learn to be responsible that the smoke they are inhaling and blowing out into the air affects a lot of people so they should watch out and make sure that no one is getting affected or annoyed with their smoking habits.
Its very dangerous to children and those with respiratory health problems that might aggravate their situations. So people should be careful and be responsible and I really believe that these are just some of the reasons that smoking should be banned from public places.
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