StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Argument against the Banning of Smoking - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper contends that smoking bans imposed by the government are not justifiable as responses to the failure of markets, as risk reduction measures, or as preference shaping means. Banning of tobacco smoking acts to reduce the welfare of the public, via the prevention of optimal allocation of public places where smoking is permitted…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.5% of users find it useful
Argument against the Banning of Smoking
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Argument against the Banning of Smoking"

Download file to see previous pages

Justification of the ambient environment regulation in the conventional sense is that there is a necessity in combating inefficiencies caused by the negative externalities (Troyer & Gerald 110). These negative externalities can be defined as the costs that the party responsible for the process that causes them does not bear. An example is a factory owner whose factory spews smoke into the environment, though he does not fully bear the costs that are linked to health risks, stench, and smoke produced by his factory.

Most of these costs are moved to the neighbours of the factory. Outdoor pollution of the air involves negative externalities that that result in excessive polluting activity and the violation of rights of the pollution victim. Indoor pollution of the air, however, involves no such type of externality (Troyer & Gerald 110). The reason for this is that the person charged with the determination of how much smoking is allowed indoors has to bear the entire cost of their decision thus making them select the air cleanliness optimal level.

The vital difference between indoor and outdoor air is property rights. While outdoor air is considered common property, in essence, the owner of the building owns indoor air (Troyer & Gerald 111). This means that the owner of the building who can control the permitted amount of smoking permitted in his/ her building possesses the incentive to allow the right amount of smoking that maximizes the individual’s welfare in their building.. can control the permitted amount of smoking permitted in his/ her building possesses the incentive to allow the right amount of smoking that maximizes the individual’s welfare in their building.

Since patrons select the buildings they visit based on costs and benefits of patronage, they are free to avoid the buildings that have air policies they do not concur with, or they could reduce the amount they would be willing to spend in these establishments. Workers at businesses allowing smoking also exercise control via demand of increased pay for compensation for un-pleasantries experienced due to smoking in their workplace. This argument shows that it is unnecessary to ban smoking since processes in the market will make sure that employees and patrons preferences as regards smoking either will be honoured or compensated (Troyer & Gerald 111).

The attempt to use bans on smoking to influence norms in society is not wise as a policy (Reid 155). Smoking bans that are sweeping in nature are actually more likely to increase incidences of smoking. Most smokers pick up the habit at a young age because it is cool. The reason that makes it cool is that it is rebellious. The harder the forces against smoking coerce individuals into stooping smoking via involvement of governmental institutions and other establishments, the rebellious and cooler smoking, become (Reid 155).

Smoking bans are also highly intrusive interventions and the actual reduction of smoking by these sweeping bans is not exactly clear. Even experts who advocate smoking bans to change social norms accept that this form of intrusive bans and regulations could result in a norm backlash. The argument on risk ignores the smoking preferences of citizens’ altogether (Reid 156). The assertion of this argument is that

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Argument against the Banning of Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1451017-argument-against-the-banning-of-smoking
(Argument Against the Banning of Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/sociology/1451017-argument-against-the-banning-of-smoking.
“Argument Against the Banning of Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1451017-argument-against-the-banning-of-smoking.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Argument against the Banning of Smoking

Smoking in public

Those that do not agree with banning of smoking in public places have a number of beliefs that are backed by solid evidence.... Course Date Smoking in Public The issue of smoking in public has had its roots from as early as the year 1590, where it was to the disdain of the leaders to observe their subjects partake in smoking.... Prior to the interference of leaders in the issue of smoking, smoking was an activity in which smokers partook freely in public and in private....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Arguments for Legalization of Marijuana

Habits develop gradually and this offers another argument against the legalization of marijuana.... Effects of smoking on other people are another offered reason for opposing the legalization of marijuana.... It is also argued that smoking marijuana is immoral because of its effect on society.... While a smoker has intentions to expose themself to smoke and chemicals in marijuana, such smoking exposes other people to the factors....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Freedom of Choice vs Smoking Ban

The harms of smoking are such that it is imperative to pass a ban on public smoking as a means of discouraging the habit and limiting its harms, irrespective of arguments claiming that doing so would be a violation of inalienable human freedoms. In social, political and legal environments which uphold freedom of choice and personal liberty, the decision of some governments and local authorities to ban smoking in public places has been a subject of controversy and debate.... Advertisement is another factor which has greatly contributed to the fast growing rate of smoking among teens....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Should the government bailout failing businesses - Argument aginst

The financial crisis that emerged as the consequence of the mortgage and the debt market failure in the United States since mid 2007 saw many of the top financial institutions becoming bankrupt.... The institutions, credited with superb ranking from the top-notch rating agencies… Though the companies affected were in private hands, yet some of them were viewed as Too-Big-To-Fail companies and the policy makers of the land used tax payers' money to save those companies from being bankrupt....
15 Pages (3750 words) Research Paper

Argument For and Against Banning Smoking in Public Places

It looks at the reasons why smoking in public places should be banned and those reasons against banning smoking in public places.... hellip; According to the report, Argument For and Against Banning smoking in Public Places, smoking is an issue that involves everyone in the country since even if one does not smoke the smoke released by the smoker gets to him.... There has been an argument on whether it is right to ban smoking in public places or not....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Banning Ads on Certain Products in the Interest of Health

he argument against the ban is primarily, therefore, addressed to the young people or children and a ban to advertising is meant to prevent or stop the children from becoming addicted to cigarettes which will they will carry to adulthood.... hellip; The author states that banning advertising on cigarette and alcohol should be part of government regulation as there are innumerable disadvantages of smoking.... While the sale of cigarette is allowed despite the dangers to health of smoking, allowing the trade legal would allow the right of the individual to take pleasure that they would want from consuming cigarette including claims of psychological benefits....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

Banning Smoking in Public Places

Surgeon General's report and informs readers that banning smoking is a far better option than having separate smoking sections in public places.... In this article, they have reported on the Surgeon General's report on second-hand smoking.... In this article, they have reported on the Surgeon General's report on second-hand smoking which is based on a comprehensive federal investigation.... The article was able to underscore the need for states and cities to take an active role in implementing stricter measures to restrict smoking in public places....
6 Pages (1500 words) Annotated Bibliography

Why Smoking Should Be Banned in Public Places

but the act of smoking tobacco has also been around for quite some time.... So much so that they choose to smoke despite warnings regarding its negative effects, physical signs of smoking that have taken its toll on the body, and rules against smoking.... hellip; This paper tells that smoking can be considered a hobby, a way to relax someone's nerves, a way to think, an addiction and more, and because of these reasons, smoking has become part of the lives of many individuals....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us