Secondhand Smoking Essay

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“A blockbuster study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined the impact of exposure to ETS on the progression of athersclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and concluded, in part, that the arteries of non-smokers exposed to ETS thickened 20% faster than non-smokers with no second-hand exposure” (JAMA).

Another study published in Pediatrics in January estimated that, “about half of the cases of early childhood cases of asthma, chronic bronchitis and wheezing are attributable to exposure to secondhand smoke” (JAMA).

Smoking in public areas such as bars and restaurants can be harmful to the health of not only the smoker himself, but everybody around him. Recent studies on the number of deaths as a result of smoking confirmed that eight out of ten people affected with diseases affiliated with smoking were a cause of second hand smoke. Laws are in the process of being passed to make certain places completely non-smoking.

Why should a person who has been careful about their health be subject to smoker’s health problems? Why should a family going out to dinner have to smell the smoke from someone else when the family has just as much right to be there as the smoker does? Isn’t there some way to compromise between the two? Won’t someone be unhappy no matter what the decision about banning smoking is? The fact is that everyone has the right to smoke if they want to; but there is no way that a non-smoker should be forced to inhale smoke that isn’t theirs. Although, won’t a restaurant lose a lot of business if they cut out the smoking sections?

The Institute for Social Research at York University for the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit at the University of Toronto performed a study on smoking attitudes and behaviors. First of all, “only 19% of Toronto adults smoke, 15% daily” (institute). The study proved that, “eight out of 10 smokers in Toronto say they would follow the rules if there were more restrictions on smoking, even without the threat of a fine. Only one in 10 smokers say they would ignore new restrictions” (institute). Half of the adults who go out to eat don’t go to the smoky restaurants or bars for that matter, but somewhere else. Only a quarter of all the non-smokers replied that they would not take a smoking table even if it was the last one in the restaurant (institute). This information was provided in 1996, when the institute interviewed 1,764 Ontario adults. Since then, certain actions have been taken to make restaurants and bars completely non-smoking.

A similar case occurred in California where a law has been passed prohibiting smoking in certain public places.

“The state law prohibits smoking in most enclosed workplaces including offices and restaurants. Gambling clubs, bars and taverns are exempt until January 1, 1998 or until state or federal regulatory agencies have set standards which limit the amount of smoke in these areas to such a level that is found to e safe, whichever comes first” (OCAT).

This law was soon passed and almost all restaurants and bars became non-smoking for the public.

An identical law was passed in New York called the Smoke-Free Act that banned smoking in almost all the restaurants in the city (OCAT). Erie County, NY banned smoking in open-air arenas, lobbies, and all enclosed places of employment. Also, bars must limit their smoking section to only 20% of the whole bar (OCAT). Limiting smoking in areas like bars and restaurants would lead to the assumption that the business will also be limited.

On the contrary though, “researchers at Cornell University found that a smokefree policy for restaurants attracts more business—and revenue—that it drives away” (Cornell). Contrary to belief, cutting out the smoking completely in some public places had a more economically beneficial effect rather than a harmful one. Smokers seem to be able to go smoke-free in public areas to comply with the non-smoker’s point of view. Researchers Stanton Glantz and Lisa R. A. Smith studied the economics of the no smoking laws and concluded that, “smoke-free ordinances do not adversely affect either restaurant or bar sales” (Glanz/Smith).

Lois Biener, Ph.D., from the University of Massachusetts Center for Survey Research in Boston, and Michael Siegel, M.D. M.P.H., from the Boston University School of Public Health, did a survey project in Massachusetts which confirmed the Glanz/Smith study. They observed almost 3,000 Massachusetts adults for a 10 month span of time and concluded that, “such policies [non-smoking laws] are likely to increase overall patronage of bars and restaurants” (Biener/Siegel). Their observations of the public proved that even though smokers were not allowed to smoke in public places, they still patronized bars and restaurants. The smokers along with the increased amount of non-smokers were enough to actually boost the profits of these places.

In the same study, “…nearly 40% of the respondents reported having avoided an establishment because of tobacco smoke” (Biener/Siegel). On the other hand, “only 8.5% of respondents reported having ever avoided going somewhere because smoking was not permitted” (Biener/Siegel). The majority seems to have a neutral attitude towards the new smoking laws. Furthermore, “ of the 32% of adults who do not presently frequent [go to] bars, 10% [120,000 people] stated that they would start going if smoking were eliminated” (Biener/Siegel). The same goes for eating out at restaurants whereas business would definitely increase...

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