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Should the Government Ban Cigarettes?

Some cynics believe that the Government has no real wish to stop people smoking because so much of the money spent on tobacco products goes to them in taxation. The government could counter this argument by reminding people that much of the accrued taxation has to be spent on medical bills for people who smoke.

In a bid to prevent a government ban on cigarettes, some smokers will state that people should be free to do as they wish with their own bodies and that banning smoking would be an infringement of their human rights.

Others will say that the government has not gone far enough in banning smoking from public places – and that smoking anywhere is bound to have a knock on effect on passive smokers and on society in general.

And so the debate goes on. What has to be realised however that no matter which side of the fence you sit on, a government ban would be unlikely to stop people from smoking. Smoking would simply be driven underground in the same way that cocaine use has been. Cocaine has been banned since around 1909, yet recent estimates tell us that use of cocaine today is at an all time high!

Tobacco, like heroin and cocaine is an addictive drug. Many people have a real desire to give up the habit but feel incapable of doing so. So what people really need is help to quit smoking, and the Government has put large amounts of resources into doing this. Smokers can get free counselling and free nicotine withdrawal medications under governmental initiatives.

As well as helping people to give up smoking, the government has to try to prevent youngsters taking up the habit and children have been targeted in anti smoking campaigns within schools. By educating children about the dangers of smoking cigarettes it is hoped that a new generation of non smokers can become a reality.