The practice of banning smoking in public has become a controversial topic. Several states like New York and California have banned all smoking in public places including restaurants and bars. Before this smoking was banned in most public places but some restaurants and bars were allowed to let their patrons smoke. A smoking ban that covers all public areas and establishments is a subject of debate in many places.

Why ban smoking in public?

There is growing evidence that secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous to the people who breathe it as smoke is for a smoker. To protect the public and to protect employees of public establishments like bars and restaurants from the dangers of secondhand smoke states and cities are passing smoking bans that ban smoking in any public area, even in the entrances of buildings. Banning smoking in public places is catching on in other countries as well. All around the world people are concerned about the dangers of secondhand smoke. There are many reasons to ban smoking in public places. It’s dirty. It makes people not go to certain bars and restaurants so that they don’t leave smelling like an ashtray which means less profit for those businesses. But the best reason to ban smoking in public places is because it’s unhealthy.

The movement to ban smoking in public places first took off in California. Since the weather is generally nice year-round most restaurants and bars in California were able to provide a patio or outdoor smoking area for their customers who still smoke. Bars and restaurants in places where the weather can get cold and snowy like New York and Illinois are fighting smoking bans in public in their states because they say it will cost them a lot of business. While some bars and restaurants applaud bans on smoking public many are upset are against banning smoking in public places. They say that individual businesses should be allowed to decide if they want to allow smoking in their establishments. Health officials say that allowing each business to decide would not protect the workers in these businesses from the effects of second hand smoke and so are not acceptable.

Does banning smoking in public work?

The effects of banning smoking public are not known yet. So far many businesses have complained that their business tallies are down and customers are staying away. The facts stating why banning smoking public in a good idea are indisputable. But it remains to be seen if the public will really support smoking bans or if many small businesses will go under when people can’t smoke indoors.