These days, an increasing number of reports of the danger associated with smoking are conveyed through media. People are already aware of the negative effects of smoking to their bodies, people around them and environment. Chances of banning smoking in public places are dominating due to the fact that second hand smoking is more harmful and strict government policies.
First of all, people have a vast amount of information about smoking such as possible disease that can be derived and even toxic contents contained in cigarettes compared to the past when people had no clue what they were consuming. After a report by health authority that second hand smoking is twice times as lethal as smoking, people started to consider quitting especially the ones with families. Also people around the smokers encourage or even nag them to stop for the benefits of everyone else's health. Later, people started to feel discomfort, outrage and irritability because they feel that they are disadvantaged. Increased knowledge about the drawbacks of smoking on other non-smokers also increase the chance of restricting smoking in public places.
Moreover, government is allocating a lot of time and money in order to reduce the numbers of smokers. They film public advertisement on TV, force cigarette companies to put disgusting pictures of damaged organs mainly due to smoking and increase the price of cigarette packets. These efforts actually have made some difference to the public's perception of smoking emphasising only the negative images. In Philippine, new law is created that smokers are only allowed to smoke where the particular bins which are only designed for smoking are presented. This law has brought positive changes of low percentage of smokers due to inconvenience and fear of heavy fine if disobeyed. Similar rule already exists today which makes more obvious that in 20 years no smokers are going to be found in public places.
In conclusion, since people are highly aware of the scientifically verified fact that smoking is toxic even to non-smokers, the group of non-smokers and government's determination to stop the smokers will be strengthen as time goes by. In return, the era of recognising no smoking signs in public places may be soon, in 20 years.
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