Smoking is harmful to society

This is a view which has become increasingly prevalent worldwide in recent years. Nowadays, around the world, on all airlines and in most public places like cinemas and restaurants, smoking is strictly prohibited.

There are, of course, still many people who smoke and they often justify this by saying that it is a matter of individual freedom. They argue that they have a right to spend their money as they wish. They say, furthermore, that smoking gives them pleasure and that it even has benefits, such as helping them to relax and relieve stress. I personally can sympathise with this point of view and I certainly believe in freedom of choice and action as long as this does not impinge on the freedom of others. This is the crucial point: I believe people should have the right to smoke but only in private.

The fact is that smoking in public places causes distress and discomfort to non-smokers. It’s not just a question of discomfort. The scientific facts that smoking damages health are undeniable. The evidence of the links between smoking and respiratory diseases and heart problems is irrefutable. Governments began to realise this over half a century ago and the first steps they took were to ban TV advertising of tobacco products and to force cigarette manufacturers to post health warnings on their packets. It is not just active smoking but also passive smoking that causes health problems and that is why, worldwide, we see moves to ban smoking in public places.

While it is important to respect individual freedom it is clear that smoking is harmful to society and should therefore be prohibited in public places.

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