The Debate: Ban Smoking in Public Place

{mosimage}Like it or not, smoking will be banned in all public indoor spaces in Dubai by September 2007. We asked our newsletter readers if they think that smoking should be banned in public places.

Only a small minority is against the ban of smoking in public places (11%). Although most of them admit that it would be better to have some assigned places where smokers can smoke freely without bothering non-smokers, it should not be prohibited in all public places.

That leaves us with almost nine out of ten people (89%) who are completely against smoking in public places. And surprisingly, smokers also share that opinion! Two main reasons are given. One reason is that it is harmful for non-smokers, and another reason is that smoking is a cause of pollution. Some of our readers’ views:

"Everybody has the right to a clean and healthy environment. A public place is meant for everyone and no one should have the right to pollute it to satisfy their nicotine craving. If they wish to smoke and harm themselves, they should do that in their own space (e.g. their homes)."

"Smoking should be banned in public places, cause it affects the health of passive smokers from all age groups, it gives bad ideas for children and teens, and it will force smokers to stop smoking."