Should the Government ban smoking in public places?

A world free from toxins is what we need “If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.” Indeed Douglas Adams was right when he said this. The government should take drastic measures against smoking, and even ban it. Smoking is a fairly surefire way of committing suicide. In fact smokers should be charged with attempted murder-for wanting to kill themselves and the people who inhale their tobacco passively. With all due respect, the government should consider banning tobacco industries and smoking at large. After all these industries concentrate on intoxicating millions and millions of people without improvising the environment or even caring about the rest of the population who don’t smoke. If the tobacco industry was willing to use better technology to reduce the impact of smoking, then maybe I would forgive them their sins. But guess what? The hazards that tobacco causes to the environment and to people costs the country a fortune, far more than the taxes that cigarette companies pay! You will agree with me that cigarette smoke pollutes the air and the ground. According to New Green Question Ville, an online journal, cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals which are exhaled and released into the atmosphere. What we mustn’t forget the cigarette butts that are discarded everyday. They end up in rivers, lakes and in the soil. Green Question journal states it that in 25 years to come, the cigarette butts will have polluted the soil and water bodies, beyond repair. And the rate at which youths are lighting up cigarettes should make the government resort to banning the cancer sticks. A 2008 survey by National Global Youth Tobacco Survey has it that 24 percent of high school students smoke. Their age varies from 13-15. So, with lung cancer, rotten teeth and bad breath, sight problems, addiction…all deadly consequences of cigarettes, can the country handle losing our youth to tobacco? Surely, with cigarettes, the do as I say doctrine applies. Many people out there who promote cigarettes don’t even smoke; they only aim at getting their brand sold, no matter what the cost. As for ardent smokers, I will never forgive you for letting such a minor drug ruin your life. And since you decide to commit suicide, it would be better stated if you changed, “smoking causes cancer” to “smoking cures cancer,” after all it’s your decision t make a fool of yourselves. I just pray that the government reacts to my article soon. Anyhow, will tobacco taxes be compared to human life? Better throw away that ash tray before the long hand of justice knocks at your door. lillianean@yahoo.com