Smoking Ban

Salma Aslam 20/11/06

The UK should be a smoke free zone. Discuss the arguments for and against the introduction of a total smoking ban in the UK.

The effects of smoking have been big news for many years. Every year more people try to quit, there are more restrictions on smoking, and more research into the effects of smoking both on smokers and the people around them. Smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any other disease, says the World Health Organisation. According to the figures they have, it is responsible for approximately five million deaths worldwide every year. UK studies show that smokers in their 30s and 40s are five times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers according to the BBC news. So should UK be a smoke-free zone, banned from every cafe, restaurant and most pubs in England? The first part of the essay will give a brief background to why the smoking ban is coming into place. Secondly it will consider the arguments in favour of the ban and then the arguments against the ban. Finally, it will summarise the overall view on the smoking ban.

The two main reasons for the smoking ban is firstly to protect staff who work in bars, restaurants and cafй's from passive smoking, as second-hand smoking can also lead to many diseases. The second is to "de-normalise" smoking as a social pastime.

The arguments for the smoking ban will now be discussed. People in favour of the band feel the evidence about the risk of passive smoking is to forceful to ignore. Supporters feel a ban would encourage smokers to quit. This was based on a poll by Mintel in May 2004 which found that 15% of smokers would quit smoking if a ban was introduced. Which can reduce the risk of getting serious smoking related diseases and other health problems such as: Gum disease, asthma attacks, high blood pressure. Also in the long term, breaking the habit of smoking would reduce the suffering from strokes, mouth and throat cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, bladder cancer and infertility. The smoking ban would also save the governments money in treating smoke-related diseases and instead the money could be used to improve the NHS service.

Another argument in favour of the band is that people have a right to protect themselves from smoke inhalation. This British Medical Association found 70% of the population are denied the freedom to go about their lives in a smoke-free environment. Most of the smoke from a cigarette goes directly into the air. This is called side stream smoke. Environmental tobacco smoke is the mix of the 15% mainstream smoke exhaled by the smoker and the 85% side stream smoke. Research shows that involuntary smoking increases the risk of heart disease in non smokers by between 25% and 30%. Standing near a smoker or their cigarette or being in a room in which there are smokers means being exposed to at least 50 agents known to cause cancer and other chemicals that increase blood pressure, damages the lungs and cause abnormal kidney function.

A further argument is that the majority of people are in favour of a smoking ban, according to a poll for the BBC in August 2004 a smoking ban in workplace including pubs and bars is supported