In recent years a big question has arose for many people, to ban or not to ban smoking in public places. There have also been many answers to this question from both smokers and non-smokers. However, the answer still is gray and teeters back and forth from yes to no.

Making Decisions

Should smoking in public places be banned? One opinion of many is yes, it should, and a majority of these opinions are from non-smokers. The non-smokers are concerned with their health by the effects of what second hand smoke is doing to them.

By banning smoking in public places are the rights of smokers being infringed upon? Yes, because it is their right to smoke if they so choose to do so. However, if banning smoking in public places is not done, does this infringe on the non-smokers? Yes, and this is where the controversy begins.

Is there not a happy medium to make both smokers and non-smokers happy? This has been tried in the past with smoking and non-smoking sections of restaurants. But smoke travels, therefore making a non-smoker a second hand smoker. Restaurants are now non-smoking facilities as are most public places.

Government officials of states, counties and cities are all trying to figure out what is best for both groups. This will hopefully create some middle ground getting the teetering around in the gray area to become more an banned area or a not banned area.

However, business owners have the right to decide whether or not their establishment is smoking or non-smoking. These owners do have to follow the guidelines of their state, county or city on smoking in public places.

Scientific Evidence

There is scientific evidence to answer the question whether or not smoking should be banned in public places. This evidence is as followed. In the 1986 Report of the Surgeon General, as well as other studies, it was thoroughly stated that there are health hazards posed by second hand smoke.

Another report done in 1991 by that National Institute for Occupational Safety, yet again stated that second hand smoke was dangerous and that it could cause cancer. Again, in 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), determined that second hand smoke was a serious health risk.

In 1997 the American Heart Association stated the scientific position on whether smoking in public should be banned or not. They believed that people should be protected from second hand smoke. Therefore, it can be concluded that science points to ban smoking in public places.