Public Smoking Overview

by Nicholas Strattberg

Public smoking is worrisome to people who smoke. Their fears are indeed founded because in the last two decades there has been a raising opposition to smoking in public. The speed at which this opposition has been coming is certainly that of an avalanche.

dangers of smoking is largely the cause behind the sorrow of many smokers. Even though smoking had been associated with lung cancer for such a long time something happened that sent tremors across the tobacco industry. In 1981 a Japanisse researcher concluded that sidestream tobacco smoke was responsible for lung cancer in a group of Japanese women. The concept of passive smoking was essentially born.

Subsequent research work by renowned scientists confirmed these early findings. Even more smoking diseases related to second hand smoking were unearthed including heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, asthma in children and tens of other tobacco related diseases.

The availability of solid scientific evidence has made a strong case against public smoking. Governments have since taken interest albeit from a political perspective. The cost of smoking is high amongst communities when people die from tobacco smoke related diseases. This translates to tax payer money usage. A politician who can save tax payer money gets the votes.

Smoking laws are therefore common in many countries today. By the end of 2009, the United States had up to 38 states effecting some form of tobacco regulation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) encourages governments to impose tobacco taxes as a way of driving smokers to stop smoking. This has worked in Japan and many other countries. The cost of tobacco cigarettes is the second most popular reason for quitting smoking after smoking and health concerns.

Smoking in public places restrictions have grown so rapidly spured by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This is a legally binding international tobacco treaty endorsed by over 160 countries. Even China the world's biggest tobacco marker and market is party to this treaty. The treaty has stung many smokers and tobacco companies alike by controlling even the advertising of tobacco products.

Smoking in public has long been restricted in places such as airports, hospitals, schools, offices and in public transportation such as taxis and trains. Some communities and authorities have sought to address so called smokers rights by constructing smoking shelters. These are designed to help smokers isolate themselves in order to smoke in public.

The development of electronic smoking which emit no second hand smoke has given some ray of hope to smokers who are willing to quit tobacco cigarettes for these electric gadgets. In some countries electric cigarettes are public smoking exempt and many smokers have been shifting to e-cigarettes not only for health reasons but also that they should be able to continue smoking in public places.

Public smoking will continue to become more and more difficult and will to a significant extent drive many smokers into misfits. Societal attitudes towards people who smoke are evidently changing. Even though pro-smokers are continuing to make much noise in the tobacco world, this doesn't seem to be changing much in their favor. Governments and the general public seem to be determined to ban smoking in public. In the mean while the smoking ban debate continues.

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