The War on Smoking Bans (Revised)

As of today, tobacco is the biggest cause of preventable death or disease in America and in the world. About 480,000 Americans die each year from using this drug and 41,000 more die from second hand smoke. 17.7 percent of people from ages 25 to 44 use tobacco, which is the highest percent age group to take this drug in America.

While some people choose to smoke because they aren't entirely concerned about they're health or if tobacco became an addiction for them and now they can't quit, others choose not to take tobacco because they are concerned for their health, but even if they choose not to smoke they can still be affected from tobacco by the cause of secondhand smoking. An example would be if someone was sitting in a restaurant and a couple tables down there was someone smoking, the smoke would travel from the cigarette all the way to the non-smokers area and they would be inhaling the drug. A lot of people were upset and concerned about this problem, which is why the smoking bans were made.

I have researched more about smoking bans from Delta's library on the site of Issues and Controversies and read over an article that discusses an argument that people are having about smoking bans and if smoking bans are necessary to protect public health. The supporters on the smoking ban states that "Cigarette smoke, whether inhaled directly or secondhand, is a proven killer, and attempts should be made to reduce its presence in public places. Areas that have banned smoking have seen fewer smokers and improvements in public health. The bans have had no economic side affects and are actually economically beneficial since reducing smoking lowers health care costs." but the opponents argument discusses that "The government should not tell people how to live their lives; smoking is legal, and Americans have a right to smoke if they wish to. Smokers are persecuted merely for making a person choice. Smoking bans infringe on individual freedom and harm small businesses. Banning smoking is a step toward totalitarianism."

Supporters continue to discuss it further into the article and their main objective on wanting to encourage the bans on smoking is because of the peoples personal health and how personal health has improved ever since the bans started, also how it "benefits the entire economy by cutting down on health care costs." The opponents main objective is to discourage these smoking bans mainly because it effects the freedom and rights that they have as people and whether they want to smoke or not. They also argue further in the article that "Many business owners contend that smoking bans cost them revenue." because instead of them being able to sit inside the restaurant to smoke they have to go outside, which makes the person owning the business not able to serve him, making him lose revenue.

In the end of the article it discusses about the smoking bans campaign still continues. It announces that "Millions of Americans meanwhile, continue to smoke, while many others struggle to quit. President Obama himself has publicly struggled to give up cigarettes. "The fact is, quitting smoking is hard, I know." Obama said in a November 2011 Internet video on the White House website. But he continued: "Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable early deaths in this country." We also know that the best way to prevent the health problems that come with smoking is to keep young people from starting in the first place." the article also states that "Though it is unlikely that the federal government will impose a ban on tobacco products similar to the ones in place in many states and cities, its campaign to stop new smokers from becoming addicted will likely continue for decades."

I will be doing more research on this cultural problem by looking on more information on states that have these bans and what the young people of this generation are doing to stop or continue this problem.