How Cigarette Smoking Bans Can Be Handled with Fairness to Smokers and Non-smokers Alike

Everyone fights for the right to do this or the right to do that etc... However, when it comes to smokers, it seems non-smokers are trying to take rights completely away. Yes smoking is unhealthy and yes if you are in the line of smoke it does affect you.

I think restaurants should have smoking sections with good ventilation. Should smokers try to quit smoking? Yes! However, it should not be considered a crime to smoke a cigarette even in your own home or on your own property or in designated places. The only way a smoker is going to be able to quit is when they choose to quit. They can't do it simply because everyone else says they should. Just like an obese person can't just give up junk food because you tell them to. They have to make that quality decision themselves. Then they have to be willing to face the struggle of quitting. It is not easy to stop a habit just because someone tells you that you have to.

I fully realize that it is not acceptable for someone who doesn't smoke to have to breathe cigarette smoke. However, there are ways to prevent non-smokers from being exposed to cigarette smoke while also allowing smokers the freedom to have a cigarette if they chose.

Three simple solutions:

1) No smoking in public area's:
Most smokers don't mind being smoke-free in public smoke-free areas.

2) Requiring smoking sections in public buildings such as restaurants, pubs etc...
This will allow both smokers and non-smokers the freedom they each desire.

3) Smoking sections should have good ventilation:
Adequate ventilation will ensure that smokers are not affected by those who chose to smoke in the smoking section.

Most smokers don't mind going to a designated place to smoke, plus sometimes that little bit of inconvenience is enough to help some people stop smoking. What I don't understand is, why the non-smoking public so set on trying to force smokers to stop completely? Treating a smoker like a criminal isn't going to help them stop. A smoker can only stop when they decide to stop for their own well being. Even then it is a very hard thing to over-come, therefore, it would be an advantage for everyone if we concentrate our efforts toward having adequate designated area's for smokers while continuing to offer more information and help for those smokers who have made the quality decision to stop smoking.

Should we also make it against the law for an obese person to eat chocolate? Based on the fact that Obesity is also among the top health threats we face today. Should we make drinking a glass of wine with dinner against the law? After all there are a lot of drunks out there crashing and killing innocent victims. What about passing gas in public? It's rude and it infringes on my right to breathe clean air. Those things would be ridiculous right!?

Yes smoking is bad, and non-smokers should not have to breathe someone's cigarette smoke. However, I believe this can be handled fairly without going to the extremes. Yes the person may still smell like smoke. A person who works with cattle will sometimes smell like cow poo. I don't like to smell some perfumes. There are and will always be offensive smells in the world.

I believe if we work together, we can find a way to protect the rights of non-smokers to breath smoke free air, while also protecting the rights of smokers by allowing them to smoke in designated area's. While also continuing to work on more improved ways to help smokers stop smoking on their own when they are ready without trying to force them or taking away their rights.

No one wants to lose rights they have previously enjoyed. With a bit of creativity I believe it is possible to protect the rights of both smokers and non-smokers alike.