| Giving More Teeth to Anti-Smoking Laws? | | | | implications of smoking cigarettes and secondhand |
| Non-smokers are now inhaling less secondhand | | | | smoke. Schools are enlisting to support non-smoking |
| smoke. This development was reported by the US | | | | campaigns on the campus. |
| Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This is | | | | In Florida, USA the state will be spending $55 million to |
| owed to the efforts of lawmakers to ban smoking in | | | | prevent teenage smoking. The strategy is to stop |
| specific public areas. However, there is still a need to | | | | nicotine addiction before it starts. It can be recalled that |
| strengthen local and international laws against cigarette | | | | Florida was one of the first American states to win a |
| smoking. Public awareness about the facts about | | | | lawsuit against tobacco companies for misleading the |
| smoking helps too. | | | | public about the dangers of smoking amid warnings |
| The self-destructive habit of millions of Americans had | | | | and facts about smoking. |
| officials scurrying to pass anti-smoking laws. The | | | | Why Cigarette Smoking Should Be Banned |
| Surgeon General is getting full support from | | | | Smoking is a vicious habit that should be nipped in the |
| governments worldwide. The World Health | | | | bud before it can start. It causes a host of deadly |
| Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on | | | | heart and lung conditions and affects non-smokers |
| Tobacco Control, which took effect on February 28, | | | | through secondhand smoke. There are better and less |
| 2005, banned smoking in workplaces, bars, restaurants, | | | | known facts about smoking but the strongest |
| and public transport. | | | | argument for quitting the lethal tobacco is the early |
| But the real sting is the higher taxes to be imposed | | | | grave and the overwhelming medical expenses for |
| and the ban on advertising. The battle against cigarette | | | | cancer treatments. |
| smoking will create quite a stir in the tobacco industry, | | | | Tobacco companies are targeting the youth with |
| which supports millions of workers worldwide. The | | | | candy flavored cigarettes and slick packaging. |
| tobacco industry, which is a major source of | | | | Addiction can start with the first puff and continue for |
| government revenues, will do their best to protect their | | | | a lifetime with dire results. The best time to quit the |
| interests. | | | | habit is to nip it before it can even start. |
| US Laws | | | | Tobacco Backlash |
| In the US, stringent laws banning cigarette smoking in | | | | Smoking kills. This is a fact, and there are emerging |
| indoor public areas are put into effect. In California, | | | | issues about it. Desperate tobacco companies are |
| three cities - Calabasas, Burbank, and Santa Monica | | | | taking up arms against anti-smoking campaigns. |
| are regulating non-smoking and smoking areas | | | | According to them, loss of revenues will also affect |
| outdoors. This is to protect residents and tourists from | | | | millions of workers worldwide. Other negative |
| secondhand smoke, which has contributed to several | | | | developments are cigarette smuggling and dumping the |
| health issues. | | | | tobacco products in third world countries. But should |
| In the enclosed workplace, smoking is banned. The law | | | | these be considered in the light of the dangers |
| requires employers to designate smoking and | | | | smoking exposes to the public? |
| non-smoking areas. The smoking and non-smoking | | | | Smokers are also up in arms about the violation of |
| signs should be prominently displayed and should be | | | | their right to smoke, but efforts continue to educate |
| strictly enforced. Violation of the law will cost | | | | the public on facts about smoking - in schools, in the |
| employers stiff fines. | | | | internet, print media, and other forms of interactive |
| As laws are enacted, public support is necessary to air | | | | media. The debate reasons that if smokers have the |
| the facts about smoking that can help the public, | | | | right to smoke and kill themselves, they should not |
| especially the youth, to understand the health | | | | include the unsuspecting public. |