Are smoking bans in public places legal?

Topic:
Health Debates

15 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
80% of users

  • Smoking bans in public places are definitely legal, in order to protect non-smokers.

    In our society, we protect its members by enforcing laws to keep others from either intentionally, or inadvertently, harming those members. The side effects of smoking, whether as a participant or bystander, are harmful and even deadly. No person should have the right to inflict harm or death on another. Private places for smoking allow those that choose to ingest nicotine to do so, without inflicting the effects of their decision on those who do not.

    Yes VersedMitch26

  • The decision whether to implement and enforce smoking bans should be left up to each individual city or business.

    Smoking bans should be a decision that a city, state or business makes. If a city chooses to enforce a public smoking ban, than it is legal by definition. If people oppose smoking bans in public, they can choose to visit a different location or venue. It should not be up to the people.

    Yes EducatedAlfonso

  • Smoking bans in public places are legal; the government has a duty to ensure public health.

    While I don't believe smoking itself should necessarily be illegal, I do think that smoking in public places should not be legal. Smoking creates significant health problems both for the smoker and for those inhaling the second hand smoke in large quantities. The others around the smoker did not make the choice to inhale the smoke; it was forced on them by the smoker. The government has the right to ban smoking in public places to protect the health rights of non-smokers.

    Yes SoWinif

  • I strongly believe that smoking should be banned in public places

    No one can deny that smoking is one of the most dangerous for human beings , not only for smoker even people around smoker ( passive ) , as well as several diseases for instance cancer , heart diseases and so on . Therefore I strongly believe that smoking should be banned in public places . your rights to smoke and also ours rights breathing a healthy air .

    Yes Anonymous

  • Smoking ban should be comprehensive

    Smoking should be banned at every area where any other living thing can be harmed. Smoking has no benefit and carries a very long list of hazards for smokers as well as others. Smoking is simply waste of health and money.

    Yes Anonymous

  • What about the people who don't want to 2nd hand smoke.

    What if there are people who don't want to smoke and go out to eat. I hate going into a public place where there are people are smoking it up.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Smoking bans in public places are legal because smoking affects the health of non-smokers.

    There have been many studies done and have shown that smoking significantly affects the health of non-smokers. Second hand smoke has been proven to have increased ear infections as well as other illnesses in children. It has also been proven to cause many other illnesses in adults. It is important to limit the exposure to those who try to stay away from it.

    Yes eyeslikethat

  • I support banning smoking in public areas, because I do not believe it is against the rights of the smokers.

    I support banning smoking in public areas, because of the health risk it imposes on the general public. It has been proved that second-hand smoke can be just as dangerous to someone as smoking itself. I do not believe it is against a smoker's rights to ban public smoking to protect their fellow Americans.

    Yes SigClever

  • Yes, due to health concerns of others, banning smoking in public areas is the right thing to do.

    Places of public assembly need to be no smoking zones. These places of public assembly are open to people who have the right to breathe fresh clean air that isn't contaminated with cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke. There are children and adults with illnesses who should be able to walk free, without the worry of breathing in toxins.

    Yes WillowsErv

  • Yes, because smoking bans are implemented to look after the overall health of citizens.

    Smoking bans are legal, because they are a way to promote the overall well-being and health of the population. Smoking bans make dining out and other social gatherings tolerable for those who cannot be around cigarette smoke. They also reduce the risk of health complications, which saves thousands of dollars on health care treatment.

    Yes WardGrad

  • It is legal to ban smoking in public places, yes, but within limits.

    Smoking in public places should be prohibited, but smokers should be allowed to smoke in designated locations. Companies should not completely eliminate smoking areas, as has been the trend in the recent years. Treating smokers as children is not right, as they are free to make their own educated choices based on the information that is freely available.

    Yes takeaminute

  • Smoking tobacco is harmful to all people, and those who choose not to do so should be protected from the decisions of others who smoke.

    Just as the legal system is set up to (in part) protect its citizens, smoking bans are set up to protect the health and safety of all people. All people should have the right to not be physically harmed by others, and smoking in public places make it almost impossible for non-smokers to avoid being physically harmed while in public.

    Yes enygmatical
Voice Your Opinion
No
20% of users

  • The founding fathers of this country were tobacco farmers, and it is our Constitutional right to enjoy fine American tobacco, anywhere in the USA.

    This country was founded on tobacco farming. It is one of our greatest exports. The writers of the Constitution fully accounted for our right to enjoy farming, smoking, and chewing tobacco in America. President John Adams, Chester Arthur, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and many more all have enjoyed and should protect our right to enjoy tobacco in public places in America. These Presidents smoked in the White House, which is a public government building.

    No Sk8brdrCar

  • It is not constitutionally correct.

    Remember that this is not a question about smoking or 2nd hand smoke being good or bad, the ability of the federal government to regulate controlled chemicals or drugs is not stated in the Constitution and teh Constitution clearly states that if it doesn't say the federal government can do something, then the federal government can't do it. The state government should be the ones to regulate this type of thing, not federal, and depending upon the state smoking may or may not be banned, and it is also the responsibility of the people to smoke without giving second hand smoke to anyone else. the government was created to protect the rights of others, and if you aren't infringing upon the rights of others by giving them second hand smoke, like if you smoked in an empty parking lot with no one else around, then you aren't taking away anyone else's rights and therefore a smoking ban would just be taking away your right to smoke. If you wan't to take away your own rights then that's yur own choice and the government shouldn't be able to do anything about it. I am against smoking AND government control, and I am for the constitution so even though i don't approve of smoking, it's not my place to make other people stop.

    No Anonymous

  • It is unfair towards smokers to make smoking in public places illegal, because smoking is a personal right, just like driving.

    In my opinion (and I am a non-smoker), smoking is a personal right and the smoker pays taxes every time they purchase cigarettes. Similar to cars, smoking pollutes public places. If cars are allowed to pollute public places, then there is no reason cigarettes should be prohibited from polluting public places.

    No FeIBuddy
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