Smoking Ban(recorrect)
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Smoking Ban
Introduction Although smoking is widely known to be hazardous to health, there are still many gaps in our knowledge of its health effects. For instance, the tobacco industry and its agents, including scientists and advertising agencies, continue to deny the health evidence and portray smoking as a fashionable and desirable habit. They promote smoking aggressively to young people and women, especially in China and other developing countries. While smoking is the single most preventable cause of death, the multinational tobacco companies are also the single most powerful advocates against tobacco control. In this report, I would like to stress my firm conviction that smoking ban is necessary.
Definition of smoking ban According to the encyclopedia, Smoking bans are government prohibitions or voluntary bans decided by establishment management on tobacco smoking in public or quasi-public indoor areas such as offices, restaurants, hotels, or even outdoor public areas such as parks and sports stadiums. Laws have been introduced by many countries in various forms over the years as health statistics shows that tobacco smoking is often fatal for the smokers and also for those subjected to passive smoking (also known as secondhand smoke). For example, the sale of tobacco to minors, or minors under a certain age, is prohibited. Additional bases for smoking bans are reduced risk of fire and reduced quantities of litter. However, some countries hardly enforce their smoking prohibitions, and continue to profit from tax on
tobacco products.
Why should we promote smoking ban?
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO), based on current patterns of consumption, predicts that more than 500 million people currently alive will be killed by tobacco. In developed countries, about 20% of all deaths at present are due to tobacco. By 2020, tobacco use will cause more than 12% of all deaths globally, which is higher than the combined percentages of deaths from infection with the human immuno- deficiency virus, tuberculosis, maternal mortality, motor vehicle accidents, suicide, and homicide. On average, smokers who begin smoking in adolescence and continue to smoke regularly, have a 50% chance of dying from the habit. Tobacco kills
nearly 10 000 people every day, amounting to 3.5 million deaths annually.
In Hong Kong, at least 10 people are killed by tobacco
each day and Hong Kong contributes 0.1% to the global tobacco death toll.
The economic impact from the use of tobacco will be severe. Already, the global economic costs of tobacco are at least US$200 billion greater than the economic gain, with one third of this loss being incurred by developing countries. This toll can only get worse, with increasing costs to government, business, and industry sectors, to the individual smoker, to passive smokers, and to the environment.
In Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority estimates that the hospital costs of three tobacco-related diseases in 1996 were HK$635 million. Recently, the Hong Kong University conducted a study showing that smoking costs Hong Kong over five billions HK dollars each year.
That is why smoking ban is necessary and smoking should be discouraged.
Law related to smoking In order to discourage smoking, The World Health Organization, which is the United Nations specialized agency for health, set up a Convention on Tobacco Control. The Convention is a major public health treaty that gives people protection from tobacco for the first time by setting international standards on tobacco price and tax increases, tobacco advertising and sponsorship, labeling, illicit trade and second-hand smoke. Entered into force on 27 February 2005, 127 countries have ratified the Convention, including 26 of 27 eligible countries in the Western Pacific Region. Countries that signed up will be obliged to ban advertising and sponsorship promoting tobacco products, forbid sales to minors, force companies to print larger health warnings
on cigarette packs, use taxation to reduce consumption and clamp down on smuggling. The Convention has the potential to save over 10 million lives per year. In Hong Kong, Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, which is the major part of the legal framework on tobacco control, was introduced to reduce the chance of smoking. It was first enacted in 1982. The Government regularly reviews this Ordinance and the latest amendments being introduced were in June 1997. It prohibits public display of tobacco advertisements, smoking in certain public indoor areas, such as shopping malls and giving of tobacco products to any person for the purposes of promotion. Recently, the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance is being developed. These amendments will seek to expand no-smoking to all indoor workplaces to protect workers' health and to tighten the control of tobacco promotion to minimize people being influenced by tobacco advertisements. From my perspective, it is good news for
us and we can avoid secondhand smoke easily if these amendments are made.
Establishment of the Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health in Hong Kong The Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health was established in February 2001 to enhance and coordinate Government's tobacco control efforts. The functions of it are to: 1. Educating and assisting mangers and staff of no smoking areas to comply with and enforce the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. 2. Inspecting tobacco retailers for illegal tobacco advertisements, improper health warnings, etc. 3. Screening printed publications for illegal tobacco advertisements. 4. Handling complaints related to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance.
5. Conducting activities to educate the public on the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance.
Opinions on smoking bans In the U.S., smokers and hospitality businesses initially argued that businesses would suffer from smoking bans. Some restauranteurs believed that smoking bans would increase the rate of dine and dashes because it could decrease the leisure (non-eating) time spent in the restaurants, which could actually benefit total sales. In fact, most businesses in Delaware, New York, California, and Florida do survive while few businesses fail as a result of the bans. Within regions with smoking bans, some degree of opposition often persists among those favoring freedom of choice for the private business owner. However, according to the study, at least in New York, the ban became accepted among diners. (The study’s site: http://www.smokefreediningpetition.com/effects.php)
My Comments Smoking has many bad effects so it is better for smokers to quit smoking to protect their lives. As for nonsmokers, we should avoid secondhand smoke by: 1. Choose smoke-free restaurants 2. Insist to dine in no smoking area 3. Request restaurant managers to stop people smoking in no smoking area 4. Request security guard to stop people smoking in shopping arcade 5. Advocate smoke-free workplace policy 6. Make your home a smoke-free place 7. Encourage your family members and friends to quit smoking 8. Say "No" to secondhand smoke
It is believed that we should urge the government to implement the smoking ban in all indoor areas to protect our lives.
Introduction Although smoking is widely known to be hazardous to health, there are still many gaps in our knowledge of its health effects. For instance, the tobacco industry and its agents, including scientists and advertising agencies, continue to deny the health evidence and portray smoking as a fashionable and desirable habit. They promote smoking aggressively to young people and women, especially in China and other developing countries. While smoking is the single most preventable cause of death, the multinational tobacco companies are also the single most powerful advocates against tobacco control. In this report, I would like to stress my firm conviction that smoking ban is necessary.
Definition of smoking ban According to the encyclopedia, Smoking bans are government prohibitions or voluntary bans decided by establishment management on tobacco smoking in public or quasi-public indoor areas such as offices, restaurants, hotels, or even outdoor public areas such as parks and sports stadiums. Laws have been introduced by many countries in various forms over the years as health statistics shows that tobacco smoking is often fatal for the smokers and also for those subjected to passive smoking (also known as secondhand smoke). For example, the sale of tobacco to minors, or minors under a certain age, is prohibited. Additional bases for smoking bans are reduced risk of fire and reduced quantities of litter. However, some countries hardly enforce their smoking prohibitions, and continue to profit from tax on
tobacco products.
Why should we promote smoking ban?
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO), based on current patterns of consumption, predicts that more than 500 million people currently alive will be killed by tobacco. In developed countries, about 20% of all deaths at present are due to tobacco. By 2020, tobacco use will cause more than 12% of all deaths globally, which is higher than the combined percentages of deaths from infection with the human immuno- deficiency virus, tuberculosis, maternal mortality, motor vehicle accidents, suicide, and homicide. On average, smokers who begin smoking in adolescence and continue to smoke regularly, have a 50% chance of dying from the habit. Tobacco kills
nearly 10 000 people every day, amounting to 3.5 million deaths annually.
In Hong Kong, at least 10 people are killed by tobacco
each day and Hong Kong contributes 0.1% to the global tobacco death toll.
The economic impact from the use of tobacco will be severe. Already, the global economic costs of tobacco are at least US$200 billion greater than the economic gain, with one third of this loss being incurred by developing countries. This toll can only get worse, with increasing costs to government, business, and industry sectors, to the individual smoker, to passive smokers, and to the environment.
In Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority estimates that the hospital costs of three tobacco-related diseases in 1996 were HK$635 million. Recently, the Hong Kong University conducted a study showing that smoking costs Hong Kong over five billions HK dollars each year.
That is why smoking ban is necessary and smoking should be discouraged.
Law related to smoking In order to discourage smoking, The World Health Organization, which is the United Nations specialized agency for health, set up a Convention on Tobacco Control. The Convention is a major public health treaty that gives people protection from tobacco for the first time by setting international standards on tobacco price and tax increases, tobacco advertising and sponsorship, labeling, illicit trade and second-hand smoke. Entered into force on 27 February 2005, 127 countries have ratified the Convention, including 26 of 27 eligible countries in the Western Pacific Region. Countries that signed up will be obliged to ban advertising and sponsorship promoting tobacco products, forbid sales to minors, force companies to print larger health warnings
on cigarette packs, use taxation to reduce consumption and clamp down on smuggling. The Convention has the potential to save over 10 million lives per year. In Hong Kong, Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, which is the major part of the legal framework on tobacco control, was introduced to reduce the chance of smoking. It was first enacted in 1982. The Government regularly reviews this Ordinance and the latest amendments being introduced were in June 1997. It prohibits public display of tobacco advertisements, smoking in certain public indoor areas, such as shopping malls and giving of tobacco products to any person for the purposes of promotion. Recently, the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance is being developed. These amendments will seek to expand no-smoking to all indoor workplaces to protect workers' health and to tighten the control of tobacco promotion to minimize people being influenced by tobacco advertisements. From my perspective, it is good news for
us and we can avoid secondhand smoke easily if these amendments are made.
Establishment of the Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health in Hong Kong The Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health was established in February 2001 to enhance and coordinate Government's tobacco control efforts. The functions of it are to: 1. Educating and assisting mangers and staff of no smoking areas to comply with and enforce the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. 2. Inspecting tobacco retailers for illegal tobacco advertisements, improper health warnings, etc. 3. Screening printed publications for illegal tobacco advertisements. 4. Handling complaints related to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance.
5. Conducting activities to educate the public on the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance.
Opinions on smoking bans In the U.S., smokers and hospitality businesses initially argued that businesses would suffer from smoking bans. Some restauranteurs believed that smoking bans would increase the rate of dine and dashes because it could decrease the leisure (non-eating) time spent in the restaurants, which could actually benefit total sales. In fact, most businesses in Delaware, New York, California, and Florida do survive while few businesses fail as a result of the bans. Within regions with smoking bans, some degree of opposition often persists among those favoring freedom of choice for the private business owner. However, according to the study, at least in New York, the ban became accepted among diners. (The study’s site: http://www.smokefreediningpetition.com/effects.php)
My Comments Smoking has many bad effects so it is better for smokers to quit smoking to protect their lives. As for nonsmokers, we should avoid secondhand smoke by: 1. Choose smoke-free restaurants 2. Insist to dine in no smoking area 3. Request restaurant managers to stop people smoking in no smoking area 4. Request security guard to stop people smoking in shopping arcade 5. Advocate smoke-free workplace policy 6. Make your home a smoke-free place 7. Encourage your family members and friends to quit smoking 8. Say "No" to secondhand smoke
It is believed that we should urge the government to implement the smoking ban in all indoor areas to protect our lives.
