by Erik Van Tongerloo

Created on: February 23, 2007   Last Updated: October 17, 2009

People have different opinions about the question "Should people be allowed to smoke in public places". We live in a world with smokers and non smokers and most of them tend to defend their own lifestyle. Smokers search facts to allow smoking, for example limiting of freedom and non smokers discuss the negative consequences.

There is still no consensus worldwide but most countries worldwide don't allow smoking in public places. There is no doubt that smoking affects our health and it is the duty of their Governments to limit the health risks. The consequence of this decision is a loss of taxes but they take their responsibility to create a world where everyone can visit public places without these health risks. A ban of smoking in public places doesn't mean that people don't have possibility to smoke. Smoking is no crime and you can still smoke in your house or you can go outside for a while to smoke.

For years, non smokers were forced to inhale this unhealthy smoke and most smokers are selfish and everyone needs to adapt to their lifestyle. We need to visit public places for various reasons and allowing smoking affects also the health of non smokers and children. We can't avoid visiting the hospital, shops, the post office, our workplace, the station and many other public places.

In my opinion smoking should be banned in all public places worldwide. It is unhealthy and non smokers need to have the possibility to visit these places in healthy circumstances. The most discussed public places are restaurants and pubs and most smokers don't agree a ban in these places. Most smokers are selfish and they consider this ban as limiting someone's freedom. Everyone has the right to dinner without the smell and the breathing problems caused by these irritating cigarettes and with a little bit tolerance of smokers all these problems can be avoided.

I agree smokers have rights too and there are possibilities to solve this problem in restaurants. Providing different areas for smokers and non smokers won't help because there is not enough ventilation. It is possible for the owners of restaurants and pubs to invest in a separate room with enough ventilation but they need to ensure that there no chance exist that someone can smell the smoke in the restaurant. Most restaurant owners won't make these investments because the costs are too high but I know some restaurants in my hometown which made this investment with success.

However, restaurant and pubs are the most discussed public places; there are still many other public places where smoking shouldn't be allowed and in many of them is already a ban for many years. It is not allowed in hospitals, the airport, the airplane, in the church, at the workplace and some others for many years. I remember that years ago smoking was allowed in some parts of an airplane. I had a place in the non smoker's area but it was allowed to smoke in the area just behind me. It was a flight of more than 10 hours and I can tell you that I couldn't enjoy my flight because the smell and the breathing problems caused by these cigarettes.

Smokers didn't like the decision of the ban in these public places but now, several years later; I don't hear anybody complaining of this decision. Smokers still fly with an airplane and I am convinced smokers enjoy their dinner in a restaurant, even if smoking is not allowed. It is just a matter of tolerance and adapting to new circumstances.

The question "Should smoking to be allowed in public places" is a debate topic but I tend to believe that there is no need to discuss this item. Smoking is unhealthy and there are possibilities to smoke in other places. A ban of smoking will help us all.

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