Smoking Banning

Introduction

A smoking ban is an internal regulation or legislation on tobacco which prohibits its use in a specific place, because of its dangers to the health of non smokers, victims of passive smoking. These are most often public places. However, there are also smoking bans in private spaces, including private cars.

Discussion

During the past decade, many countries have adopted smoking bans to protect patrons and workers from secondhand smoke (SHS) in restaurants and other alcohol-serving establishments. Without the protection of such bans, employees of bars and restaurants in comparison with all other occupational groups have the highest levels of exposure to SHS. One of the initiators of smoking prohibitions in bars was California in the United States. The impetus for promulgation of the California law came about as a result of concerns about the potential adverse health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. Levels of SHS exposure among U.S. nonsmokers have fallen substantially in the past two decades. Nevertheless, millions of nonsmokers in all countries worldwide remain exposed to SHS in workplaces and public spaces (David, Pp. 3).

Since 1964, tobacco advertising has been restricted, and health warnings have been mandated for advertisements. Most slates in the United States have also passed laws to control smoking in public places such as restaurants and workplaces, where nonsmoking areas may be required. Most U.S. airlines have prohibited smoking on flights lasting six hours or less, whereas others have prohibited smoking on all flights. Among the military, the U.S. Army has been particularly strict in imposing smoking restrictions. The tobacco industry and man smokers regard antismoking measures as harassment, whereas many nonsmokers defend the measures on the grounds that the government has a duty to discourage unhealthful practices, that public funds in one form or another become involved in treating diseases caused by smoking and ...