Should people be allowed to smoke in public places?

Can a mod please turn this into a poll? Thank you

I hate cigarettes and its derogatory effects. I can't stand people smoking around me. If you don't want to live, go ahead and cut your wrist. But don't try to kill me. Discuss whether smoking in public places should be allowed.

 

Smoking should be done in a secluded area or residence. Secondhand smoke is still a leading cause of lung cancer, but that's gone down hopefully- some states have passed non-public smoking acts, including my own. I'm not sure as to how other countries are doing with similar legislature, I'd hope they follow suit eventually. It's made restaurants actually pleasing to eat in; no more smoky clothes, coughing, or smell. My aunt got lung cancer and she never smoked a day in her life, she was a bartender for many years though.

The way I see it, you are potentially harming others by smoking publicly. You should not be doing that.

In short, no. Don't let them smoke near others, confine them to their homes or areas outside of set parameters.

 

Heres my thoughts,

I realize that smoking's an addiction that some aren't willing to give up but I'm not willing to risk my health for your addiction. Don't allow smoking in public,if a company decides to provide a secluded area where they can smoke thats fine but not in public not only is it bad on my lungs but its also a bad influence on children

 

look i belive people are aloud to live there own lives. if they want to smoke then smoke. if you dont like it then why are u around people that are smoking? u cant smoke in pubs,shops,pretty much cant smoke any place but designated smoking places. there are even outdoor areas that u cant smoke in.

"im talking about australia not shore about ur country"

 

I believe that designated smoking areas are a great idea. I myself am a smoker and still try my best to separate myself from others so they won't breathe my secondhand. I believe smokers should be courteous to others who don't smoke.

 

I live in England and the smoking ban came into affect on July 1st 2007. This ban makes it illegal to smoke in all public indoor spaces, for example pubs, restaurants, nightclubs etc.
Obviously smoking in outdoor public spaces such as parks is permitted because the smoke is not confined to an enclosed area.

This is fair in my opinion as passive smoking can cause lung cancer. This is not fair on the non-smokers as they choose not to smoke.

 

Here in Aus your not allowed to Smoke Near any one Under 18, In Cars 35m away from Shops Parks Schools Public areas so Its pretty good over here.

I think they should be stopped from smoking any were besides there own house...

 

I personally don't mind smokers, obviously banning it from hospitals and places like that is good, but anywhere else they should be allowed to.
Maybe not restaurants, as eating food and then a pile of smoke blows into your face is pretty off putting.

Cars and trucks are outside, public places such as pubs are in a confined area, the smoke has no where to go besides your lungs.
When smoking was allowed you could see the smoke in the air in pubs.

 

You're comparing the work of machines that perform a useful task (of transportation) and produce waste output, like any other machine, with an activity that does nothing but satisfy someone's petty cravings at the expense of the health of people around them.

Well, donating 500mL of blood to a hospital results in a greater magnitude of blood loss than, say, a nose bleed after being hit in the face, but which is ultimately worse?

 

Imagine, how the shop sellers feel, when everyone smokes in your shop.

But i think they should let smoke everywhere! if u dont like it, rune away

 

Most of places in US have that as well. But I go to a college of 40,000 students. It's in fairly small area and I would say 40% of the people smoke. (That's an estimate). Even if they're smoking in open places, I can't stand it, because there's simply too many of them all around.

Couldn't have said it any better. One benefits the whole society, whereas the other is for personal "benefit".

who owns public places?

 

Yes they have rights, but that right ends when it comes to befouling the airspace of public places which is what smoking in public places does.

My right to have clean air to breath over-rides your right to pollute it by doing something 100% unnecessary.

 

Although many of you may not like it when someone is smoking in an area near you in a public setting, you can't really get angry with them for doing something that's perfectly legal. They have just as strong of an argument by asking you to leave and them to stay so your not bothering them.

As sythe has stated above, this is a form of prejudice simply because you think it can hurt you. When in actuality your not in too much danger if it's simply a non-regular thing. While second hand smoke over a LONG period of time can have the ability the cause health problems, it would also have to depend on your genes as well, lung cancer can't simply be attributed to only second hand smoke, you also have to take into account the persons lifestyle and family background to see if they have a higher chance of lung cancer thus making them more vulnerable to secondhand smoke than a normal person.

So if your simply angry with them because i don't know...you were eating kfc outside on a picnic table and they were smoking near you, then its highly improbable that anything will happen to you. Your just over exaggerating due to the media creating this large "cigs are bad mmk" thought process in peoples minds.

 

As a democratic country, we all have the freedom of choice.
I have it, so I smoke.

However!

The freedom is choice is only limited to when you are NOT causing anybody harm.
For example, most basically you do not have the freedom to kill.
Killing somebody is the worst harm that you can do to him or her, and you do not have the freedom to do that.

Second-hand smoke can give others an addiction or be a detriment to their health, so smoking in public should NOT be allowed!

I agree with the others, that there should be specified zones for smoking and such.

 

Ah I didn't actually think about that, but cars are essential, smoking is bad for your health as well as everyone elses health, it doesn't provide any good output like cars and trucks do.

 

A truck doesn't sit a table away from me in a restaurant/bar/pub/etcetera and that truck certainly isn't in a confined area with me as well.