Smoking in public places is an advanced battle field for anti-smoking campaigners. For years people who smoke have enjoyed un-interrupted smoking in public places. This has now apparently come to an end as fierce opposition readies for all-out sustained war. In the corridors of public policy making
smoking bans in public places are taking shape.
To demonstrate the extent of what's coming, scientific reports suggest the practice of creating separate smoking sections is not adequate. This is commonly found in airports and other public buildings. Smokers are enclosed in an aerated glass cubicle separate from the rest of the non-smoking public in the same building. According to researchers this still constitutes harmful smoking in public places. The harm emanates from secondhand smoke.
The direction things are going is that only smoke-free buildings and public places will truly protect non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand and thirdhand smoke.
Public calls to ban smoking in public places are becoming louder and politicians are listening. Reasons for banning smoking in public places go far beyond concerns of second hand smoking. Environmental issues have also surfaced which strength fuel the debate and the position why smoking in a public place should be banned.
In the United States alone, an estimated 126 million people are exposed to second hand smoke through drifting smoke. Public place smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other respiratory ailments in involuntary smokers.
For this reason big airports in the world like Los Angeles International in the States and O R Thambo International in South Africa have altogether banned terminal building smoking. In the US about fourteen states have enacted what qualifies for comprehensive smoking laws for workplaces, restaurants and bars. Follow link to read more on smoking laws.
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Secondhand smoke is one single reason why public space smoking remains an alarming public health hazard. The only protection that non-smokers can possibly get is through legislated restriction of smoking in public places.
Children in homes remain the hopeless captives of involuntary smoking since on their own they cannot escape. In fact even when the parent leaves for work or some other chores; thirdhand smoke hanging in clothes, carpets, curtains and other such places is still dangerous. Government instituted bans end just outside the door into the house.
Opposition from affected public places most of them amusement and hospitality facilities such as restaurants, bars and hotels has come in torrents. Yet it has been proved that such smoking bans do not necessarily hurt this sector of the economy. If anything, less and less people are and will continue to take on smoking due to on going anti-smoking campaigns, easy access to information and green movement campaigns.
The banning of smoking in public environments have partly given rise to the popularity of e-cigarettes and non-tobacco cigarettes and products such as nicotine water.
In a few years time even as it has now began, smoking will increasingly become a societal taboo associated with criminality and disregard for the health of others amongst other societal driven and sustained negative perceptions.
The truth of the matter is that smoking is not cool any more even though the acting industry has made look so with some tragic smoking stories.
Society will increasingly begin to question the judgment of an individual who utterly disregards clearly such well known dangers of smoking. This important driver will possibly drive public-smoking underground out of shame. It will not be an overnight outcome. It will certainly take root as society's concerns change. We all know that health concerns are on the increase worldwide.
If not altogether driven underground, it will be sustained by those who choose to go totally against societal health consciousness. They will bear the brand of society's unkind words. Only those who can stand such societal backlash and "brutality" will dare continue. Many others will opt to seek help in order to stop.
The following bans in public places can be expected.
- Airport terminals
- Schools, Colleges and Universities
- Hospitals and medical facilities
- Public transport - buses, taxis, trains, planes, boats, ferries
- Libraries, restaurants, bars, hotels, movie theaters
- Workplaces
- Indoors - buildings etc
Some of these places are already banned. Some have been for many years. Yet many other countries will follow suit to ban smoking in public places like the one listed above.
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Follow the link to read more on smoking laws
Follow the link to read more on stop smoking tips
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