The Smoking Ban 'Pro' Argument

News and Current Affairs

‘Pro’ and ‘Con’ Argument

‘The Smoking Ban’

‘PRO’ SMOKING BAN

• ⅔ of non- smokers are disturbed by smoking.

• There will be a rise in businesses such as ‘Smoking Ban Solutions’ whom have already come up with ideas of objects to sell in order to increase sales, for example, wall mounted cigarette bins, smoking shelters and servicing contracts.

• ‘The Health Service’ strongly agrees with the ban and hopes that it will result in less underage children smoking.

• BBC News reported on the 9^th of March, 2006, said that the ban will hopefully save 4,800 lives each year.

• Non smoking employers will not have to work in smoking environments.

• Many restaurants and pubs will become non smoking.

• Money that the NHS uses for smokers each year could be used for other things, an estimate of £2m every week could be used in hospitals to build more cancer recovery and children wards for example.

• 50,000 smokers are estimated to give up.

• 85% of former smokers support the ban as they do not wish to give in to temptation that surrounds them daily.

• The smoking ban could help Prince Harry quit.

• Enclosed stadiums will become non smoking.

• Smoking will be banned from bus stops.

• Train platforms will be smoke free.

• Eleri Thomas, 20, believes that the ban will make smoking an inconvenience and it will help people to cut down which will eventually cut down the percentage of smokers in the UK. It will also help on cutting down the number of under age smokers.

Eleri doesn’t think that it will affect restaurants greatly but believes unfortunately bars will suffer, especially on match days and big turn over days. “It won’t stop me going out and socialising although I do consider smoking as an acceptable social act. Physically it will be great because it will encourage me to quit and make it easier to stay off them.” (see interview 1, 13/04/06)

She believes that the ban is a good idea, but it is important that support is given to people that are trying to give up.

• Will, 21 supports the ban strongly. He believes that pubs will loose on business but not for long. He looks upon the ban as a personal advantage, “I hate breathing in other peoples smoke. Physically, the ban will decrease passive smoking, which will obviously be an advantage for the health of non smokers and anti smokers such as myself. I think it’s taken a long time for the government to come to this decision and should have taken action sooner.” (see interview 2, 13-04-06)

• “About Bloody Time” says Dan, 20. (see interview 3, 13-04-06)

• Lucy is totally for the ban believing it is essential. When asked about the effects on businesses she believed that at first smokers will not enter non smoking bars, but they will overcome this when people start giving up and realise that a non smoky atmosphere is better. “I think it has been a long time coming, and I totally welcome it. Smoking is detrimental not just to the health of the smoker, but others around them, and it shouldn’t be allowed to continue in any public place.” (see interview 4, 13-04-06)

• Jenny, 21, a smoker herself, mainly supports the ban but admits that she is being bias as she knows the ban will help her quit smoking. She believes there will not be a great pressure on restaurants as most people choose to sit in the non smoking area anyway. “A ban will upset a lot of people who feel they should be able to smoke if they wish, even if only in certain marked out areas.” (see interview 5, 13-04-06)

Although the majority of people interviewed were FOR the forthcoming smoking ban, some were not decided.

• Matt, 21, believed that it will be beneficial in restaurants but not in pubs. “It will become annoying that you will have to leave a bar just for a cigarette but it might make me consider quitting so obviously that would be a good thing.” (see interview 6, 13-04-06)

• Chris, 22, didn’t really mind either way and said that “smokers will probably carry on anyway,” although he was happy that it will stop him being a victim of passive smoking. (see interview 7, 13-04-06)