Everyone is aware of the fact that smoking is injurious to the health of the inhaler and of the people around him. The question arises that is it ethical to restrict someone to practice something for others benefit or is it a right stance to restrict some practices for the betterment of the society and the environment. This concern has sparked an unending debated. There are people who support the ban on public smoking and there are other people with the opposite approach.
The most important reason for favoring the prohibition of smoking in working or public place is passive smoking and its adverse effects on the health of surrounding people. While the smoker is involved in active smoking, people around him are enforced to inhale carcinogenic air as a result of passive smoking. Health is indeed a blessing and people who care about their health avoid smoking. However, resisting second-hand smoking is not possible until the authoritative bodies place restrictions on smoking at public or work place. Moreover, smokers also disturb the working environment when they occasionally leave for smoking. In working hours, employees are expected to give their best, however, when some employees leave the working station for smoking, this not only affects their work but also the work of other employees who depend on them. Another reason for banning smoking activity is the raising environmental concern. Scientists assert that the environment of earth is contaminating day-by-day and smoking adds harmful inhalants in the air.
On the other hand, there are people who support smoking and denounces ban over smoking. Such people believe that every single person has his/her own right of choice and everyone must be given the liberty to practice what he/she wants. Smokers also argue that smoking does not disturb their work effectiveness, on contrary, it helps them to relives short term work stress. The increasing smoking rate is also because of the increasing depression and anxiety. To fight with such mental stress, people opt for smoking, as they believe that smoking is a medicine for their depression and anxiety.
It is true that every person has the right of choice, however, the particular choice of an individual must not distort other persons’ circle or reference. The ill effects of smoking to the smoker and to the immediate environment cannot be neglected because of the liberty of choices. When one lives in a society, he or she is bound to obey some rules which shatter his/her liberty of choices for the betterment of the society.