Should Smoking be banned in Restaurants?

Smoking bans has been debated since there are many countries ban smoking in public areas, such as in United States, Italy, and Turkey. It is not only in public areas such as hospital and public transportation, but also in private areas such as restaurants, bars, café which are the owners have their own right to rule their business place. People have their own right to choose. Perhaps, smoking should not be banned in public places because it is the smoker's choice to smoke just as it is the non-smokers choice not to smoke.

Most controversial debate is going on public smoking ban. There have been a lot of arguments brought up both in agree and against smoking bans. People against smoking bans say that freedom of choice would be affected by such legislation. They say that smoking bans damage business. A smoking ban could lead to a significant fall in earnings from bars, restaurants, and tobacco industries. The most effect of smoking ban at restaurant is the lower benefit gained by many restaurants and bars. According to research by Dave Kuneman, worked for 6 years in the 1980s as a research chemist, has shown that smoking bans damage bar and restaurant businesses 80% of the time. Further, other studies which find that smoking bans don’t damage business are odd because they use tax revenue and employment data to determine ban effects and fail to measure for a sufficient length of time before and after bans take effect.


On the other hand, Some of the arguments which are agree with smoking bans are based on medical reason. Smoking ban is one of the ways for reducing smoking and recognizing non-smokers' right to health protection. They also stated that passive smoking or second hand smoke does carry risks. The health situation could be significantly improved if one of the risk factors, that is tobacco, was eliminated.


However, Patrick Carroll, president of the Cincinnati, Ohio based Buckeye Liquor Permit Holders Association, states that too many places (bars and restaurants) are losing too much money and that some are even on the verge of closing their doors. Bar and restaurant owners are extremely upset because the ban is taking away their rights and sales are decreasing. Since the May 3rd ban, most Ohio bars’ sales are down 50%, and some even 70%.

In conclusion, smoker has a basic human right to smoke in public places and the ban is a limitation for smokers' rights. Smokers light a cigarette because they need to smoke, not because they want it. So, it is not fair if smoking should be banned in public places. It is the smoker's choice to smoke just as it is the non-smokers choice not to smoke. In my opinion as non-smoker, I realize that smoking is not good for health; however I cannot ask people to stop smoking when it is occurred at public areas, especially at restaurant. It will be better for me to move than disturb someone’s right.

(taken from many sources)