Should smoking be banned in public places completely? The answer is actually a gray area for many people. Does this mean public places that are indoors? Does smoking in public places also mean outdoor venues? The clarification part is what seems to be the big wrench in the works when it comes to people smoking in public places.

Public smoking has been going on for years and many people hated dealing with the smell and such. However, it wasn’t until the harmful effects of second hand smoke came about that there was a real public outcry about smoking in public places. Would public smoking laws really work? How far should the laws extend? Banned smoking in public restaurants was one of the first address when it comes to smoking in public places.

While some restaurants went totally cold turkey in regards to getting people to stop smoking in public places, others created specific designated areas to allow smokers their right to puff away. However the problem with this is that no matter what you do, the smoke literally permeates the air and can travel to the non-smoking areas. Therefore, non-smokers are still being subjected to second hand smoke. These effects of public smoking are what caused many restaurants to go cold turkey.

So should smoking in public places be banned? This is the issue that is constantly being debated on. There are some general pros and cons of smoking in public places that lawmakers are constantly debating.

Pros To Smoking In Public Places

First of all, let’s take a broad look at some of the public smoking bans in different areas of the country. Some of the bans allow for restricted smoking outdoors. This entails having special designated areas at public facilities and employment. However, smokers have to stay away from entrances and windows where the secondhand smoke could enter into a building. Other bans on smoking in public places are unrestricted in smoking outdoors, meaning you can light up anywhere outside. The only allowances for indoor public smoking are if an establishment or workplace creates a specially ventilated room for smokers only.

The outdoor smoking policies are easy to implement and the only cost to business owners and the workplace are the signs that would have to be posted. The laws and ordinances about smoking would be complied with and the threat of secondhand smoke is greatly reduced for non-smokers.

Cons To Smoking In Public Places

Allowing for certain smoking areas in segregated areas still can be a detriment to a business or workplace. Some people say that watching a bunch of employees light up outside is unprofessional and does not project the right business image. In addition, the littering problem will grow because some smokers are not careful where they throw their cigarette butts away. In addition, making people smoke only in certain areas will cut into employee productivity and it is an inconvenience to many people who are smokers.

There will likely never be a one hundred percent resolution to this smoking in public debate. And each city and state has slightly different rules. If you want to know more about what other places are doing, check out some books on banned smoking in public places from the library or the internet.