Persuasive Essay

There seems to be no other hotter topic for debate than the issue of banning smoking. No one knows how tobacco was first used, but many of the people have used the leaves of the tobacco plants since 1000 BC to the present day. The large Ttobacco consumption of late is much higher than you can imagine. A result of a research study done by KT&G Ccorporation, the leading tobacco company in Korea, illustrates that Koreans smoke over hundreds of million cigarettes every year, and the consumption of tobacco per person is over 1,700 grams a year in Korea. Despite this statistical data, some say we have to ban smoking because of some reasons like health problems, economic costs, and effects of second-hand smoking. However, I believe that we should not ban smoking from thesesome viewpoints: the rights of the individualhuman rights, the difference of cigarette than hallucinogenic drugsexaggerated risks, and the economic loss that banning smoking would cause.

Banning smoking is a violation of human rights. Individuals fundamentally have their rights to choose their own actions. Even though people make wrong decisions, nobody should infringe on their personal rights telling them, “You are wrong. Smoking is very harmful, so don’t do that anymore.” The government should not be an exception to this idea. Furthermore, now we can see a number of non-smoking sections in restaurants and bars easily. In Korea, smoking is being banned in hospitals and on public transportations, and partially banned in the workplaces, government offices and on domestic flights with less than 2 hours, which is making it fair to both smokers and non-smokers. As long as this system works well, we don’t need to carry out a total ban that encroaches on human rights.

Cigarettes are not as harmful as hallucinogenic drugsThe risks of cigarettes are exaggerated. It is true that tobacco is harmful for our health in the long run, but smoking is just one of many causes related toin serious diseases. Eating too...