Smoking laws protect non-smokers against passive smoking

Lately smoking laws are getting stricter and there are many countries that are enforcing these laws. During recent years smoking in public places has become a taboo in many countries through out the world.

These laws are put in place due to the widespread negative smoking effects on smokers and also due to the detrimental effect passive smoking has on non-smokers.

What countries have done w.r.t. smoking bans:

Many countries have banned smoking in the majority of public places. The feeling is that the single most cause of preventable death in the world has been the least regulated for many years. I am so happy that a worldwide change is taking place.

Lately even pres. Obama from the USA signed a smoking ban to try and help people to quit their smoking habit.

Worldwide there are many countries that are now enforcing smoking bans to a certain degree and in many instances disobeying of the law could lead to severe penalties. Something that is really very effective is the imposing of high taxes on tobacco products.

The result is that many areas, including the workplace, became more smoke free and far less people are exposed to the dangerous effects of second hand smoke.

This is also a way to hold tobacco companies more accountable. Children also enjoy much more protection than a couple of years ago.

What non-smokers want from the laws:

Non-smokers want to be protected from the nasty effects of smoke. Mostly they feel that smokers must not take their drug in a way and in places that can hurt and do damage to other people.

The feeling is that smoking is a selfish action, because one person’s actions can have a detrimental affect on so many other peoples’ lives.

Personally I feel that we must always remember that we do not live alone on an island. We have to act with responsibility towards our fellow citizens. I think we have to do what is right for the good of all other people.

What smokers want from the smoking bans:

Smokers feel that the laws are violating their basic rights to smoke, and that they want to be free to mind their own business and smoke wherever and whenever they want to.

What business people want from the smoking bans:

Mostly business people are willing to apply the no smoking laws, but when they start losing money they are not so willing any more.

It has been reported that especially pubs and certain dining places became empty after certain smoking laws were put in place.

The cruise industry for instance was very slow to ban smoking, because it really holds them back when they get group bookings where some of the members in the group are smokers. They have limited space and sometimes it is very difficult to cater for smokers and non smokers on the same cruise.

Facts worth mentioning about non smoking laws:

1)As far as children and pregnant women are concerned it is very welcoming to know that they are not exposed to dangerous second hand smoke when they visit public places.

2) At present non-smokers does inhale much less second hand smoke than before the worldwide smoking bans were introduced.

3) Higher taxes on tobacco products and stiff penalties against violators of these laws assure a great deal of success.

4) Research has already shown that in work places with smoking bans the smokers do smoke a remarkable number of cigarettes less per day.

Words of caution about the smoking law:

1) It is necessary to strengthen the laws against smoking and to also get support from the public to properly apply and enforce the smoking bans.

2) It has become important that people be aware of the different laws. This is becoming more and more important for business people to successfully run a business, especially where the public is involved.

To conclude:

These days with more strict smoking laws that are enforced it becomes more and more difficult to smoke out side your own home. If you then have a spouse that does not like smoking it even gets worse.

In a certain way I think we have to admit that the world did become “small” for smokers. May be the time has come to just let go and give up this conflicting habit.

Go to Smoking Laws.

Go to effects of smoking.

Go to quit smoking at once.