The issue of banning smoking in all eateries is still under fierce debate. Some smokers think that it is too cruel to ban their habit in all eateries while most passive smokers complained that they have to suffer whenever they go into a restaurant and eat there. The two opposite sides seem to have their own opinions and stand strong against each other. But if you look deep inside the story, you・ll find out banning on smoking is reasonable and acceptable.
Many of the smokers often argue that banning on smoking in all kind of restaurants would also mean a ban on their freedom of choice. They are not allowed to do what they wish to do when they are enjoying their meals. It・s like saying when people say watching TV is bad for health, then the habit of watching TV have to be banned everywhere. This is nothing different from depriving one・s rights yet in the same sense, they should understand that smoking in public places is also a kind of depriving rights of the others. Passive smokers such as employees and customers are forced to endure the smoke they exhale. They can not stop breathing to death, just because they want to avoid the inhalation of second hand smoke. These people should learn that passive smokers also deserve rights and freedom of choice. According to a news report Japanese would be fined if any body get caught smoking on the streets. This kind of action deprives one・s rights much more seriously, thus the ban on smoking in all eateries is not that cruel.
The majority of the smokers may go on to say that smoking is a kind of relaxation. By doing so, it can help people refresh their mind and is a good medicine for mental problems. Mentally, people can feel that they are relieved therefore they can go on and concentrate again on their work. In reality, smoking is not good for anybody・s health. Many doctors have advised people that prolonged smoking or inhaling second hand smoke can lead to fatal disease. Every year many people in Hong Kong die from lung cancer, in which 50% are triggered by smoking or inhalation of second hand smoke. Physically, human body could be seriously affected and result in a terrible life. So, people should not smoke in order to maintain a good immune system. The ban on smoking in all eateries is definitely effective in helping to improve the current situation.
From the economic angle, many restaurants owners may worry that they would have a crushing blow to the industry. More people may not choose to eat out if the ban is valid. Thus, these owners together with their employees would rather keep on enduring second hand smoke, even though they know they might suffer from illnesses. Nevertheless, this kind of perception is rather pessimistic. As a survey done by the tourism board showed that more visitors would like to eat out if the ban is implemented while the majority of the local citizens also would like to eat out since they could enjoy their meal without smokers. That means the ban on smoking in all eateries would not only help to bring a fresh environment but also the surge of income of restaurants owners.
For those who opposed the ban should believe that nothing is different if you try to accept. In 1994, California of the US has banned smoking within the state. At the very beginning, not many of its people could follow the regulation. But now, it is well received and only little portion of people there smoke. It is obvious that there is not any deprivation of rights but letting all the people enjoy a better living environment.
