Smoking Ban in the Philippines
Why Shouldn't it be Banned?
One of the most popular argument against the ban on smoking in public places is that it is a clear cut encroachment on the personal life of the individual. Secondly, smoking ban in public places gives it unnecessary attention, and it is a normal human tendency to try something that is regarded as a taboo in the society. When forced to stop smoking at the workplace, an individual is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, which can in turn hamper his performance. Making a law is one thing, and implementing it is a totally different ball game.
If a statute pertaining to smoking ban is passed, but not implemented properly, the failure will result in youngsters taking to smoking in closed environment without proper guidance, which will be even more hazardous. On the commercial front, such a ban is bound to affect the business of cafes and pubs. Lastly, this ban is also against the interest of the government, as a significant share of the state treasury comes from the taxes on the cigarettes.
Each of these pros and cons need to be taken into consideration before coming up with some statute about banning smoking in public. More importantly, just coming up with the statute is not important, the administration has to make sure that it is properly. We have seen the futile exercise of making laws, and forgetting them, being repeated quite a few times in the last decade or so. At the end of the day, making a law, but not implementing it, is like not making a law in the very first place.
By Abhijit Naik
Published: 6/3/2010
Since my childhood I have heard that "Smoking is Injurious to Health". I know it's true and so do the millions and millions of smokers all around the world. So why smoking in public remains a grave issue? Do smokers don't realize the negative impact their smoking is having on the environment and on the people inhaling the smoke? There can be various aspects to this topic. While smoking can be a very serious thing
One of the most popular argument against the ban on smoking in public places is that it is a clear cut encroachment on the personal life of the individual. Secondly, smoking ban in public places gives it unnecessary attention, and it is a normal human tendency to try something that is regarded as a taboo in the society. When forced to stop smoking at the workplace, an individual is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, which can in turn hamper his performance. Making a law is one thing, and implementing it is a totally different ball game.
If a statute pertaining to smoking ban is passed, but not implemented properly, the failure will result in youngsters taking to smoking in closed environment without proper guidance, which will be even more hazardous. On the commercial front, such a ban is bound to affect the business of cafes and pubs. Lastly, this ban is also against the interest of the government, as a significant share of the state treasury comes from the taxes on the cigarettes.
Each of these pros and cons need to be taken into consideration before coming up with some statute about banning smoking in public. More importantly, just coming up with the statute is not important, the administration has to make sure that it is properly. We have seen the futile exercise of making laws, and forgetting them, being repeated quite a few times in the last decade or so. At the end of the day, making a law, but not implementing it, is like not making a law in the very first place.
By Abhijit Naik
Published: 6/3/2010
Since my childhood I have heard that "Smoking is Injurious to Health". I know it's true and so do the millions and millions of smokers all around the world. So why smoking in public remains a grave issue? Do smokers don't realize the negative impact their smoking is having on the environment and on the people inhaling the smoke? There can be various aspects to this topic. While smoking can be a very serious thing