No Smoke without Fire

People take up smoking for the surge of pleasure and adrenalin at the first puff. It gradually gives a hazy yet enjoyable experience, through the drug nicotine. In social occasions, it feels more respectful to accept a cigarette from one’s boss, especially if everyone is smoking. Friends and influence from parents also affects one’s preference to smoking. Many people disclosed that they were persuaded to smoke by their friends who are smokers or having a thick fog in their houses, created by parents who pass on this undesirable habit.

I think it is a good idea that smoking was banned from public places. In fact, I feel that smoking should be made illegal. Smoking is the burning of a rolled-up packet of tobacco and other chemicals, releasing gases of high toxicity, breathing in these gases, absorbing them into the bloodstream, letting them flow to the head, to daze oneself, and overall just barbecuing the respiratory system and making us (pun intended) smoked ducks. As such many people will not refrain from smoking in pubs due to the lack of enforcing agents. The pub owners also do not want to ward away potential customers.

Firstly, I think that people rarely smoke while they drive since most are very careful about the cleanliness of their Hyundai. Nevertheless, on highways truck drivers can be seen driving with their cigarette in their hand outside the window and steering with one hand. I think this rule to ban “smoke driving” should be enforced as nicotine is a relaxant drug as well as alcohol and the reactions of the drivers would slow down, perhaps causing some accidents that could be avoided. Passengers should be banned from smoking as well as the drivers might be inhaling second hand smoke which is more toxic than regular smoke due to the absence of a filter.

The most I could do in that situation is to alert nearby security officers. The smoker might not be very benevolent to me if I approached him to stop smoking since he has already ignored the “No Smoking” sign.

I think smoking should not be associated with sports since sportsmen do not smoke as the practice damages the physical condition of athletes. As stated in the second paragraph, I would like the activity of all activities associated with smoking to be banned, so there would not be any need for cigarette advertising, would there?

I think this is not useful as smokers mostly understood the dangers of smoking but succumbs to it nonetheless. It is no more a reminder of the hazards of smoking than the disapproving glance from passer-bys.

I do not agree with the age limit as most children are still in their studying age, interacting with other teenagers. They are the most susceptible to the addiction, being in touch with students whom some are not conscious of the dangers of smoking and spread this ‘fun’ thing amongst their peers. The age limit should be placed at 25, where most people have all grown to both mental and physical maturity, having learnt and studied the effects of smoking, and are able to make decisions for themselves.

It is the fault of both parties. Tobacco companies should not advertise their harmful products so extensively. The smoker should not smoke in the first place. In my point of view, the company pays part of the medical fees of the smoker, but the smoker pays for the major part of his medicine.