Persuasive Essay On Smoking In Public Places

Smoking cigarettes is one of the biggest causes of preventable deaths in the United States. Doing it in public not only harms current smokers, but also those around them; which is why there should be a law prohibiting smoking in public places. Many smokers believe if they smoke outside, they cannot harm other individuals. However, studies suggest that sitting 3 feet away from a smoker outdoors can expose you to the same level of secondhand smoke as if you were sitting indoors with the smoker. If you had an extra 2 months with the people you love, would you take it or just throw it away? Well, every year a man smokes, he shortens his life by almost 2 months (Ellis). Smoking one single cigarette takes an average of 11 minutes off a typical mans

Smokers need to maintain a certain level of nicotine in their blood to remain content. A ban on smoking in public places would force them to smoke less while at work or in other public places. Over time, this would lower the level of nicotine they need to feel content. This would reduce how often they feel they need to smoke. They would therefore smoke less at home (Barnoya). It is legal to smoke tobacco, so people claim the government has no right to try to make people quit. Smokers fund their own health care through the high taxes they pay for tobacco also smokers know the consequences of their actions. Many believe it is an infringement on the rights of the smoker, rights which are guaranteed to all citizens of a democratic country. But many others, including myself feel it is unjustified. The smoker cannot and should not force his smoking upon anyone. Smokers should care for the rights of others as well. The rights of so few cannot be given preference over the rights of so many. Only 18.1% of Americans are currently smokers. Meaning, 81.9%, the majority of the population in the United States, does not smoke. But, these 81.9% of people are being affected by the smoking population