Tobacco smoking: Should cigarette smoking be banned? (Essay Sample)

Should cigarette smoking be banned?
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Institution
Should cigarette smoking be banned?
Smoking cigarettes is the most frequent way of consuming tobacco, and has more negative impacts on the society than positive. The cigarette is the deadliest consumable item in the history of man’s civilization. Most countries around the globe, however, are making progress in trying to reduce the rate of consumption. Some of the strategies imposed involve increased taxation and cutting down advertisements. However, one option raises debates, which is “should the state ban the legalization of cigarette smoking?” Personally, that is a strategy that deserves more consideration and enactment as a way to reduce cigarette smoking.
It leads to the death of many people every year, in the world. The only basic advantage of cigarette smoking is that it increases or adds up to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Through the sale of cigarettes, the government gains revenue through the taxes and imports made; therefore generating state income increasing economic growth. However, it is at the expense of the populations’ health. Apparently, tobacco takes a crucial toll on the lives of many people and causes 450000 premature deaths annually. It leads to the development of a number of diseases, mostly involving the respiratory system and is a leading causative agent of lung cancer. Statistics show that in the 20th century, smoking killed one million people and approximately one billion will die in the 21st century if the trend continues. The death of such a large number of people reduces the production of a country, which subsequently reflects to the low economic production in the state (Hitchcock, 2003).
Smoking affects the society in a number of negative ways. It affects nonsmokers, smokers and unborn children. Through environmental studies, the health care system proves that non-smokers suffer an equal chance of acquiring respiratory disorders due to passive smoking. For that reason, smoking is harmful since it also affects the rest of the population, which is unfair. Additionally, both born and unborn children are at a high risk of obtaining health problems due to smoking. Pregnant women and parents who smoke jeopardize the health status of their children and sometimes lead to certain abnormalities, cancer or even death. Finally, smokers suffer the greatest health problems that include lung cancers, brain damage, asthma, tooth decay and other diseases (Feldman, 2004).
It reduces production and reproduction. Cigarette smoking is a very addictive habit that affects all smokers. Both typical smokers and chain- smokers have a hard time handling their daily activities due to the constant interruption to pause and smoke. That reduces their concentration at work; therefore causing poor work performance, which leads to inefficient and ineffective production. It also leads to poor standards of living, including hygiene to most of the smokers (Clinard, 2010). Most smokers spend most of what they earn on buying cigarettes and live in an untidy environment. Other indirect costs include medical bills in the case of health problems. Finally, doctors believe that smoking affects fertility in both men and women. Women who smoke t...