smoking

1367 Words3 Pages

INTRODUCTION
The question suggests that smokers today are treated as outcasts in most social settings in Great Britain and the USA. 50 years ago, 70 percent of men smoked while 50 percent of women smoked but today about 21 percent of both women and men smoke in the UK (Hughes, 2012). People could smoke in any public place even in their offices 50 years ago but today, the premises of offices and pubs in Great Britain are crowded with smokers who have been denied smoking indoors. Smokers today are viewed with antipathy by non-smokers; this is a considerable difference as compared to 50 years ago when smoking was socially acceptable. Further steps have been taken regarding smoking bans in America, with effect from the first of March 2014; the University of Stanford placed a ban on the sales of tobacco products and smoking in the university (Coughlan, 2014). The USA legislative is yet to ban smoking in vehicles with children (Haddou, 2014) and in New York, E-cigarettes have also been included in the smoking bans in public places (Sherwell, 2014). This is not only peculiar to developing countries like Great Britain and USA but some developing countries such as Nigeria. Is the negative treatment towards smokers in Great Britain and USA reducing the population of smokers in these regions or should more effective ways of controlling smoking be implemented?
This essay will evaluate the way smokers are viewed in the 21st century; arguments that support the denial of free medical care for smokers and counterarguments compare smoking restrictions in Great Britain and Nigeria and discuss the effectiveness of several steps taken to control smoking.
The general attitude towards smoking in Great Britain and USA has experienced observable chang...

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...n has contributed to a significant decrease in the prevalence of smoking related diseases. Although the smoking ban seems to be effective, some pro-smoking arguments consider it to be rather extreme. The government can come to a compromise that is beneficiary to both smokers and non-smokers. The smoking ban can be reviewed such that it permits large buildings to have designated indoor smoking areas and smoking licenses can be issued for buildings with proper ventilations. Smoking is a lifestyle choice and although it may pose possible harm to healthy living, smokers should not be treated as pariahs but rather should be encouraged to live a more healthy life. The government should also make efforts to create awareness of the dangers smoking is likely to cause to the younger generations. Stigmatization is dangerous for any individual and should not be encouraged.

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