Smoking not only harms the smoker, but also those who are nearby. Therefore, smoking should be banned in public places. To what extent do you agree or disagree? ~Sanchit
Cigarette
is a carcinogenic substance which has devastating impact on the health of its
consumers, but has an even greater effect on the bodies of non-smokers who are
subjected to passive smoking. This has prompted concerned health experts to
propose prohibiting smoking in public areas, whereas there are a few who
disagree with it.
The
rationale behind forbidding lighting cigarettes in the public domain is
protecting others from getting sick due to the smoke emitted by smokers. The
side stream or each puff is laden with carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide along
with other hazardous compounds which affect passive smokers more than the ones
smoking. This can inflict bystanders with several lethal diseases like heart
ailments, asthma and in extreme cases various kinds of
cancers.
The damage
to the health of those around smokers does not stop here. It has been proven
that inhalation of smoke emitted by smokers, has serious consequences on the
fetus of pregnant ladies, as the chemicals in it can hamper the development of
unborn babies causing physical deformities or brain damage, making them
disabled for life.
However,
avid smokers oppose the ban by arguing that such steps are an assault on their
freedom and are against the rights promised to them by the law. Similarly,
others go to the extent of terming such a move as biased, they feel when
society is surrounded by fossil fuel propelled vehicles and factories that discharge
far more hazardous pollutants into the environment profusely, why should the
minority smokers be discriminated against.
In hindsight, I opine that smoking
in public is extremely inappropriate and unattractive, as such misdemeanour could cause discomfort to someone and lead to severe medical issues to people
in the immediate vicinity. Thus, such acts should be banned in public.
