According
to Farlex (2011), the definition of smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of
burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the
act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve
stress. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many
health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too,
and one with serious health consequences (Farlex 2011). Smoking is a hard habit
to break because tobacco contains nicotine which is a highly addictive
substance which could get you addicted. Like drugs, a person’s body and mind
quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person just need to
have it in order to feel normal (The Nemours Foundation 2011). Smoking can risk
everyone’s life regardless of age, gender, residency or occupation. Many people have quit smoking and many
countries have banned people from smoking in public places.
There
are many reasons on why smoking should be banned. Firstly, smoking exposes
non-smokers to second hand smoke (Juggle 2010). Smoking affects non-smokers
more than smokers. Smoking may also cause serious health problems and it can
also cause fatality in some cases because of the substances used to make
cigarettes like nicotine and lead. Besides that, smoking can make others who do
not smoke feel sick when they breathe in the smoke because they are not used to
the smell of it. The number of heart patients has decreased since there were
smoke bans in some areas in certain countries (Juggle 2010). In some countries,
when the government ban smoking in public places, several people took the
plunge to quit smoking because they find it difficult to find a place to smoke
(Buzzle 2011). This shows that the smoke ban was successful after all. The
government should also ban smoking because it poses the possibilities of
influencing the mind of children as well. This would lead to the increase of
number of smokers if immediate action was not taken.
Other
advantages of banning smoking are smoking makes a person easily depressed and
get anxiety attacks. This is because when you smoke cigarette, it causes
changes in the respiratory function (Wikipedia Foundation 2011). Besides that, another
bad effect on an individual’s body when being constantly exposed to smoke is
that it has harsh effects on the individual’s skin (3FC 2008). An even better
reason on why smoking should be banned because according to BioMed (2011) the
percentage of non-smoker is higher than the percentage of smokers so
non-smokers have the right to have clean air. Smoking can affect the overall
stamina because when a person smokes; their lungs are weakened, making exercise
difficult (3FC 2008). This could lead to obesity in some cases. According to
Demand Media (2011), the loss of exercise can also result in higher weight and
cholesterol levels, which puts you at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease
and heart attacks.
There are also disadvantages on why
smoking should be banned. Firstly, smoking suppresses ones appetite therefore
the person can lose weight. This happens because smoking speeds up the
metabolism rate which burns the calories quicker and smokers are able to maintain
a slim figure (3FC 2008). Smoking calms a person’s nerves when the person is
under stress and that keeps them focused. When a person is in stress, doing
something they like or interested in would help them to release tension and it
also makes them happy. Besides, smoking helps people think more clearly because
when they smoke, it makes them feel refreshed. Smokers tend to take more breaks
than an average worker. Taking frequent breaks makes a person less tired and
makes their brain work more efficiently. Smoking also builds social bonding because
smokers tend to smoke together (3FC 2008). In addition, the government makes a
lot of tax from the sale of cigarettes (Buzzle 2011). In certain countries,
this amount has dropped since the ban. Smoking is legal so the government has
no right to stop them.
In conclusion, I agree that smoking
should be banned as it is very dangerous for health. Smoking is not good for
health and its also
wasting people’s money. There are many other things a person could do instead
of smoking which is even more worth it and cheap. People could chew chewing
gums, read a book, breathe deeply, do some exercise or they could also take up
a new constructive and interesting hobby. This would be better rather than
smoking. All those activities could make you healthier and happier whereas
smoking could take your life anytime. I also agree that the prices of
cigarettes should be increased. When prices increase, people will think twice
before buying it as they are going to lose a lot of money if they buy it. There
are many public places around the world which ban smokers from smoking as it
may risk the life of others but stubborn smokers still continue to smoke. In my
personal opinion, the government should impose a heavy fine on stubborn smokers
who still want to smoke in public.
Only then smokers would take the responsibility to care for other people’s life
too when they are in public by not smoking. One should be blamed for themselves
to start smoking. Individuals should learn how to differentiate what is right
and what is wrong for them. They are grown up so they should know the
advantages and disadvantages of smoking rather than regretting later part of
their life. Smoking is not one of the ways to release stress and tension in
life. In fact, there are hundreds and thousands of ways to reduce stress. In
order to release stress, one could call up a friend, meditate, go for a walk or
do something interesting. There are many reasons for a person to stop smoking
and many ways to quit smoking. The government should raise up the price of the
cigarette very high or ban smoking around the world. This would surely reduce
the number of deaths caused by smoking and other diseases caused by smoking. Therefore,
I totally agree that smoking should be banned.
++COPYRIGHT STEPHANIE NYSSA GOMEZ++
