Smoking in public places is becoming less and less attractive to people around the world, particularly those who don’t like smoking cigarettes. They claim that cigarette smoking causes too many health problems and feels that a smoking ban should be put into place, at least to some extent. They’re right in saying that smoking cigarettes causes health problems, but non-smokers should be happy to know that their outcry has been heard by governments throughout the world.
Within the past decade, there have been many more countries that have put ban on cigarette smoking in public places because of the discomfort that people have around those people who like smoking cigarettes. Governments around the world have also shown their displease with the effects to the environment (particularly the air) that cigarettes have. From each and every cigarette that is lit up around the world, there is more secondhand smoke coming from people that smoke cigarettes.
All of these governments (amongst others) have placed bans of cigarette smoking in some form in their country:
- United States
- United Kingdom (all regions except for Scotland will have bans by the end of 2007)
- Italy
- Republic of Ireland
- Australia
- Vietnam
- Japan
- Spain
The most common public places that ban people from smoking cigarettes are:
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Government buildings
- Hospitals
- Train stations
- Airports
- Schools
These laws have restricted smoking in public places to the point where those who smoke cigarettes are forced to either go outside or into a smoking designated area in order to get their cigarette smoking satisfaction. However, these places let smokers be themselves and light up any type of cigarettes that they desire.
Even though the bans have changed the ways that people are smoking cigarettes, they haven’t affected how much they actually consume since smoking in public places still occurs despite the laws. In some countries, those who like cigarette smoking can smoke outdoors and in other public venues that their respected governments allow. These bans also don’t prevent people from smoking cigarettes in private places such as people’s homes.
There are some countries that have gone further than banning smoking in public places. Belgium for example has banned smoking cigarettes in all work places, even if they’re privately owned since coworkers can still be exposed to the harmful ingredients given off by cigarette smoking. Italy has gone as far as banning all smoking that occurs in any indoor place.
The people that advocate the cutting back of cigarette smoking are happy since these new changes have come to them and will be seeing more changes to cut back on the smoking of cigarettes to be even happier. Only one country has outlawed all tobacco sales and consumption: Bhutan. Most countries have a long list of restrictions in them, but smokers everywhere can rejoice that it only applies to smoking in public places… for now.
