Ban Smoking

Have you ever walked into a public facility, minding your own business but the place was overwhelmed with cigarette smoke that when you leave, your clothes carry a horrible stench for the rest of the day? This happens in many of our favorite places where we enjoy dining and socializing. A controversial issue on whether to ban smoking in all public places has been around for many years. The "smokers" obviously don't want to see that happening nor do the owners of bars, restaurants or clubs. For the "non-smokers", they are supportive on the issue because they are concerned about the health risks caused by passive smoke. I believe smoking should be banned in all public places because if people are allowed to smoke then they are forcing people to inhale second hand smoke which makes it seems as if we are murdering them.

As we are all aware, smoking has many health risks that can be very harmful to us. It is the leading cause of lung cancer, it may cause chronic lung disease such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, strokes, peptic ulcers, osteoporosis, cataracts and as well as cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterus, cervix and possibly also leukemia and cancer of the breast, prostate, and colon. It also increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks by increasing a person's risk of developing blood clots. Smoking is one of the most important causes of disease and is responsible for at least one out of every five deaths in the United States. (Smoking Risks) As we can see smoking has many horrific consequences that have to be dealt with. If smoking is allowed in public places such as casinos, restaurants, and pubs then we are encouraging people to contract such diseases and risks. With all these health problems that smokers have, federal and state funds pay more than 43 percent of all smoking related medical-care expenditures. (Smoking Health Risks)

Not only do smokers hurt themselves but they also hurt the people around them. Second hand smoking, also known as passive smoking can cause more harm then people think. Passive smoke increases the health risks of smoking by three times. Public health officials have concluded that secondhand smoke from cigarettes causes disease, including lung cancer and heart disease, in non-smoking adults, It causes conditions in children such as asthma, respiratory infections, cough, wheeze, otitis media (middle ear infection) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as well.(Effects of Second) As a matter of fact, pregnant women who breathe in second-hand smoke has a major effect on the baby. From the moment the baby is born, it will already have breathing problems. Smoking has been proven to be hazardous to both the mother and the child. Evidence has been found that smoking while in pregnancy has been linked to problems such as cot death, miscarriages, and chest problems during the first few months of life. It can induce vomiting and cause urinary infection making the mother feel ill. In a study of 24 newborn babies, half were born to women who had been exposed to passive smoking and half were born to women who had not been exposed to passive smoke. The study found mutations in the white blood cells of the babies born to passive smoking women. (Mothers' smoking) Why should people be forced to inhale other people's cigarette smoke against their will? Studies show that even a half hour of passive smoke can impair blood flow to the heart. Imagine what an hour or 2 may do if a half hour already effects your body. Studies have also shown that people who work in bars or restaurants have a higher tendency to be diagnosed with lung cancer. (Second Hand)

In California, where the Legislature passed a law in 1994 that banned smoking in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, caused many tavern and restaurant owners to fear economic consequences. In the state of California and Delaware, non-smokers experience the same problems that we do here in New York City. To resolute their problem the state banned smoking in bars and restaurants. Three other states, Maine, Utah, and Vermont ban smoking in restaurants, however not in bars. Amazingly, with the new law on cigarette smoking in public places, business at bars has increased even though most regular barflies still don't like it. Citing the poll's finding that 55 percent of bar customers say they enjoy smoke-free bars more than smoke-filled ones. (Stricter Smoking) According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, The respiratory health and lung function of bartenders improved after the California law prohibited smoking in bars. (Bartenders' Health)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's position on this issue is for the banning of smoking in public places. He plans to put a ban on smoking specifically in bars and restaurants. Mayor Bloomberg is planning to get the bill approved. He is trying to