Over 50% of states are covered by a smoking ban of some form according to en.wikipedia.org. The ban severity depends on the state. Some states the ban includes hotel rooms and others it includes restaurants and bars while other states smoking isn’t allowed anywhere. Since healthcare costs in America are completely out of control, many feel bans such as these have come at a good time. If anything the laws are only going to get more and more strict.
In 2005 Washington state voted to issue fines of $100.00 to smokers who light up within 25 feet of businesses such as theaters, restaurants and bars according to USAToday, Other states such as Indiana will not allow smoking even at bus stops or ATMs. In many other states healthcare workers are forbidden to smoke during the work day and must sign a contract agreeing to this rule before they are hired. If found in violation of the contract, employees are fired on the spot. Every school district has outlawed smoking on their property even for employees. Other states have taken their smoking bans to another level, in Iowa even smoking in your car anywhere on the grounds with get you a fine USAToday also reports. California, who has been a pioneer in the smoking ban, also became the first state to out law smoking on all of its beaches, These trends have no where to go but up mainly due to people raising awareness among the public.
In the past second hand smoke was just a minor annoyance. However it has become a major health concern. Research has shown there is cause for major concern, non-smokers, if exposed to second hand smoke, can develop many of the same health problems as smokers. This means, lung cancer, asthma and emphysema are a reality even if you have never smoked a cigarette. The public feels an obligation to keep non-smokers healthy largely due to rising healthcare costs and health problems.
Some feel by imposing these bans on public places law maker are taking away the publics right to choose what they want to do with their own bodies. While this may be true non smokers and children are being exposed to unwanted health problems by simply being in the presents of smokers.
California is one of the leaders of the new smoking ban trend. Over the years California has taken drastic measures to protect their public. Just when the public thought California couldn’t get tougher on smokers, they did. In 2007, California took their non-smoking ban to a new level and started protecting children. California became one of three states to outlaw smoking while driving with a child in the car according to cigarettehouse.net. This outraged some smokers however the public and California’s governor felt the safety and welfare of a child was more important than a smoker having a cigarette.
Fifty years ago smoking was a widely accepted form of socialization among adults. Smoking was allowed everywhere from restaurants, work sites and in schools. However after seeing the effects of smoking many have chose to quit. Banning smoking is replacing the smoking socialization factor of fifty years ago, the new trend is healthy and no one should expect this new trend to go away any time soon.