Smoking Ban

Bob

Mr. V

2/14/2006

Public Smoking

Smoking has been a part of this country since before and after the civil war. Since then it has become a large part of the economy’s income, pulling millions of dollars in annually. But now, with more and more people concerned with second hand smoke and their health, smoking has begun to be banned in public places. From restaurants and even bars smokers are being forced to hold on to their cigarettes until the end of the night. Something that once was an enjoyable sociable part of going out has now become a solitary penalty. Does the government have the right to take the rights of the people smoking in public and the owners of the bars and restaurants themselves?

Only a few years ago, walking through the doors of a bar was followed by the intense wave of smoke that filled the air inside. As people socialized and consumed, the cigarette was usually in the other hand. But over the years this has become a touchy subject with more and more people learning not only the negative affects of smoking itself but also second hand smoke. Studies are now showing that second hand smoke can be as bad or even worse for you than actually smoking. So the question rises, shouldn’t these people against smoking just go somewhere else where they will not be bothered by it? The smokers should have just as many rights as the people who are not smoking. Not only would this ban affect the people who smoke in public but also the restaurants and bars owners. Financially it could hurt these places a lot. If public places have a ban on smoking, smokers won’t go there and that means less money spent at these places.

Also it must be taken into consideration where the tobacco products come from. There is numerous tobacco farms nation wide and by cutting down on smoking means cutting down on the production of tobacco. With these farms and the companies producing the cigarettes, millions and even billions of dollars will be lost which...