We cannot imagine that people smoke inside of a building or in a public place such as a restaurant, a bank, or an airport. In addition, we see many public advertisements to advocate the right of non-smokers. Some argues that we have to consider the smoker's right, but I agree with the prohibition to smoke in public places. The rationales behind my opinion are relevant to non-smokers' health and economic aspect.
To begin with, smoker has to consider other people's health. While we cannot adjust his smoking behavior because smoking is his choice. A government, however, also has a responsibility to maintain non-smokers' health. The fact that secondary smoking, in other words indirect smoking, is caused more severe effects than direct smoking is very well known based on various researches. For this reason, a kid in the family which has a smoking member is more prone to lung cancer although a kid does not smoke. In this sense, smoking in public place has to be prohibited completely.
Furthermore, we, as a non-smoker, have to pay some money for smoking if smoking is permitted in a public place. Buying a cigarette is a personal expense but cleaning a public building or making a room for smokers comes from tax. Specifically, we see a smoking chamber in an airport. Who does pay that expense for keeping a smoking chamber? Every user pays that expense regardless he is a smoker or a non-smoker. In addition, we can figure out more economic aspects related with medical cost. In case, lung cancer caused by indirect smoking is abundant, a society has to pay more extra money for health care for its members.
In light of all these circumstance, Smoking should be prohibited in the public place for keeping others' health and reduce expenses for cleaning or maintaining some facilities for smoking. |