Should Smoking Be Banned from Public Places? What are the effects of smoking? Do we have the right to ban smoking in public places, taking into consideration the Morals and ethics.

Essay by gui_mHigh School, 10th gradeA+, December 2002

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Public places are bars, restaurants, discos, toilets, sporting stadiums, cinemas, work, street, shops schools and transports. In some countries, smoking is already banned and in a few of these public places such as schools, cinemas and public transports.

The groups of people who smoke are now changing. Over 55% of all smokers are aged between 12 and 24, while in the 1960's; only 15% of the total smokers were aged between 12 and 24. About 46% of all males in the general world population smoke while less than 30% of women do. However, trends in tobacco consumption show that the percentage of women is increasing, while the percentage of males is decreasing. Currently, one of the ethnic groups with highest percentage is the American Indians/Alaskan natives with a smoking prevalence of 36.2%. A research conducted in the United States showed that people with less formal education tend to smoke more.

Developing countries are now smoking as much as developed countries. 41% of men and 21% of women regularly smoke cigarettes in developed countries while 50% of men and 8% of women smoke in developing countries.

Many people start smoking for different reasons. Once they start, it's very difficult for them to quit. Only 6% of people who start smoking regularly have successfully quit smoking permanently. People may start smoking because they wish to lose weight which was proved not to be very efficient. Lack of confidence on someone's character can have a link to start smoking. For example, people smoke because they want to socialize and fit in with their friends, because of peer pressure or because it's an easy way to meet people. Parent's influence also clearly increases the probability of the child to smoke. Advertisements from cigarette are now targeting teenagers who are influenced with more ease. Once...