SMOKING CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS AND SHOULD BE MADE ILLEGAL (Arif Supam Wijaya)

There are clear arguments for banning smoking, based largely on health, but there is perhaps a stronger case to be made for maintaining the current situation, as will now be explained.
The most important factor for keeping smoking legal is that the decision to smoke is not something that should be controlled by the government, but by the individual. If a person decides to smoke, they do so of their own free will and this should be respected, as it is the government’s role to advice against harmful practices, but ultimately not to make decision for its citizens.
The other reason for allowing smoking is that by making laws against it is more likely to result in the sale of tobacco moving to the black market, and consequently increasing the level of associated crimes. There will still be people who cannot overcome their addiction, and will search for any means available to access cigarettes. A clear example of this reaction can be seen in the illegal sale of drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana,
Of course, there is the fact that smoking is known to have adverse health effects on both the smoker and those around them who are affecting by passive smoking. Yet there are other lifestyle choices that also have negative impact, such as fast food and alcohol, and banning these items would restrict the choice available to the customer.
To sum up, the decision to ban smoking, although having some advantages, would be more likely o have an overall nega.ive effect. It would therefore be better would be for the government to continue campaigns that educate people about the potential dangers of the habit.