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Smoking In Public Areas

Smoking in Public Areas
Have you ever walked out of a restaurant or a bar smelling like an ashtray after spending an hour of getting yourself ready for the occasion? I am sure that everyone has experienced this problem on more than one occasion. Smoking in public areas is an annoyance to many people everywhere, and not only is it aggravating to many non smokers, but it is also very hazardous to people's health. According to Manitoba Medical Association, secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of lung cancer and preventable death, after smoking and alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report about 90 percent of nonsmoking people in the United States are exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke. Most of these encounters are in public areas. Many smokers believe very strongly that they have the right to smoke wherever they please, and that smoking should be allowed in all public areas. "People go to the pub to relax. Relaxation is achieved by having a few drinks, a packet of crisps, and having a chat with friends, which include partaking in the legal activity of smoking" (1 Kate Atwell). However, does this give these smokers the right to harm the health of other people that are surrounded by them? In some parts of the United States actions have been taken to ban smoking in public areas, especially restaurants and bars. However, smoking should be banned in all public areas all over the world because it is an annoyance to others and ultimately harmful to innocent people. People should be able to breathe clean air when they are doing simple everyday things such as eating, chatting with friends, and working. After all, the concern of peoples health is more important than the convenience of being able to smoke in public.
Secondhand smoking can also be referred to as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) and passive smoking. The majority of the population today is very unaware of the devastating effects that secondhand smoke has on the body....