Advantage
Content
Young people aged 14 to 24 were the most affected, mainly because they spent time in more smoky environments, such as bars. They also have the highest percentage of smokers, at 37 per cent. However, this age group said they considered themselves to be less at risk from second-hand smoke than others, the Health Office reported in its Tobacco Monitoring Survey. Exposure to passive smoking has continued to drop for the population as a whole. In 2002, 35 per cent said they were affected and in 2006, it was 27 per cent. Passive smoking was most likely to occur at catering
establishments and its incidence in workplaces has fallen as a result of many companies outlawing smoking, authorities said. Overall, more than two-thirds of those surveyed said they supported a ban on lighting up in restaurants, cafés and bars. In cantons where it is already outlawed, 90 per cent were in favour. The southern Italian-speaking Ticino region became the first canton to introduce a smoking ban in indoor public places in April 2007.
Currently, nine cantons have introduced bans and most others are planning similar legislation, although there is no consistency nationwide. Advantages of Smoking The great tobacco debate has been going on for years. Ever since it was determined that smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer, along with a host of other diseases, non-smokers have been railing against the evils of cigarettes, while many smokers have clung to their tobacco like a miser with his last penny. But the question is, are the smokers right? Are there indeed advantages to tobacco use? Die-hard cigarette users claim many benefits to smoking, some are the following:
• • • • • •
Peer group acceptance if peers smoke Effective weight loss aid Performance enhancement in tasks requiring concentration Stress relief Some smokers truly enjoy the taste
There are issues with most of these perceived advantages. If a smoker attempts to change peer groups, they could find smoking to be a barrier to acceptance. The performance enhancement is
minimal after the first few cigarettes a smoker has in their lifetime; from that point on, it is just a perception of enhancement based on the memory of those initial cigarettes. Weight loss and stress relief could be as effectively obtained by other, healthier means. Therefore the only valid advantage is if a smoker really enjoys the taste, but one has to wonder if they don’t enjoy the taste of the cigarette merely because they cannot taste anything else. Disadvantages of Smoking The disadvantages to smoking are far more numerous, and much harder to argue against, a sampling of them include:
• • • • • •
Death from disease caused by smoking Diseases (even if they don’t cause death) Lung Cancer Throat Cancer Mouth Cancer Many other types of cancer have also been linked to tobacco use
• • • •
Emphysema Asthma Decreased lung function Advanced signs of aging
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Cost of cigarettes, applicable taxes and paraphernalia such as lighters
• • • •
Decreased acceptance by non-smoking peers The lingering odor of smoke on body and clothing Lowered ability to exercise due to inability to breathe Cost of stop-smoking aids when the decision to quit is made
Conclusion While some of these effects are wholly or partially reversible upon quitting smoking, research has shown that many are not. Quitting smoking provides enormous health benefits, but some smoking-caused damage simply cannot be reversed.83 Moreover, many of the effects outlined here can cause considerable harm to kids and others soon after they begin smoking and well before they become longterm smokers.
establishments and its incidence in workplaces has fallen as a result of many companies outlawing smoking, authorities said. Overall, more than two-thirds of those surveyed said they supported a ban on lighting up in restaurants, cafés and bars. In cantons where it is already outlawed, 90 per cent were in favour. The southern Italian-speaking Ticino region became the first canton to introduce a smoking ban in indoor public places in April 2007.
Currently, nine cantons have introduced bans and most others are planning similar legislation, although there is no consistency nationwide. Advantages of Smoking The great tobacco debate has been going on for years. Ever since it was determined that smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer, along with a host of other diseases, non-smokers have been railing against the evils of cigarettes, while many smokers have clung to their tobacco like a miser with his last penny. But the question is, are the smokers right? Are there indeed advantages to tobacco use? Die-hard cigarette users claim many benefits to smoking, some are the following:
• • • • • •
Peer group acceptance if peers smoke Effective weight loss aid Performance enhancement in tasks requiring concentration Stress relief Some smokers truly enjoy the taste
There are issues with most of these perceived advantages. If a smoker attempts to change peer groups, they could find smoking to be a barrier to acceptance. The performance enhancement is
minimal after the first few cigarettes a smoker has in their lifetime; from that point on, it is just a perception of enhancement based on the memory of those initial cigarettes. Weight loss and stress relief could be as effectively obtained by other, healthier means. Therefore the only valid advantage is if a smoker really enjoys the taste, but one has to wonder if they don’t enjoy the taste of the cigarette merely because they cannot taste anything else. Disadvantages of Smoking The disadvantages to smoking are far more numerous, and much harder to argue against, a sampling of them include:
• • • • • •
Death from disease caused by smoking Diseases (even if they don’t cause death) Lung Cancer Throat Cancer Mouth Cancer Many other types of cancer have also been linked to tobacco use
• • • •
Emphysema Asthma Decreased lung function Advanced signs of aging
•
Cost of cigarettes, applicable taxes and paraphernalia such as lighters
• • • •
Decreased acceptance by non-smoking peers The lingering odor of smoke on body and clothing Lowered ability to exercise due to inability to breathe Cost of stop-smoking aids when the decision to quit is made
Conclusion While some of these effects are wholly or partially reversible upon quitting smoking, research has shown that many are not. Quitting smoking provides enormous health benefits, but some smoking-caused damage simply cannot be reversed.83 Moreover, many of the effects outlined here can cause considerable harm to kids and others soon after they begin smoking and well before they become longterm smokers.
