There is no doubt about the enormous danger that smoking causes to human health and the chunk of resources it takes from the medical services. It is thought by some that this habit can be tackled by making it a crime. This approach would potentially help improve life expectancy and release funds to be expended on other areas of the economy but the disadvantages also have to be considered.
One major benefit of making smoking an offence is that it would result in having a healthier citizenry. Smoking is considered by medical experts to be the leading cause of cancer of the lungs in people. Making it a crime would be a way of government protecting its people. Also, there would be less strain on resources used in the health sector. Money that previously would have been allocated to that industry can then be used for meeting more pressing needs, such as infrastructure and education.
A potential drawback of criminalizing smoking is the level of resources that would be required to implement and convict offenders. Considering how addictive a habit like smoking is, it would take a lot of monitoring to ensure compliance. This would have to be funded by tax payers’ money which could be used for other more beneficial projects. Secondly, this policy would mean that companies that currently work in that industry would need to close down their factories or change completely their line of production. This would not only lead to loss of jobs by employees, but also the loss of revenue to authorities in the form of taxes.
Therefore, instead of making smoking illegal, other approaches may be considered. For example, the state can sensitize the public about the potential health hazards caused by smoking. Another strategy would be to increase consumption taxes on tobacco products. This would make it more expensive and potentially deter those that cannot afford it.
In conclusion, although banning smoking has its advantages, it would have huge detrimental implications on the economy. Educating the public about the risks and making cigarettes unaffordable can be also be given a consideration.
There is no doubt about the enormous
danger
that
smoking
causes to human health and the chunk of resources it takes from the medical services. It is
thought
by
some
that this habit can
be tackled
by making it a crime. This approach would
potentially
help
improve
life expectancy and release funds to
be expended
on other areas of the economy
but
the disadvantages
also
have to
be considered
.
One major benefit of making
smoking
an
offence
is that it would result in having a healthier citizenry.
Smoking
is considered
by medical experts to be the leading cause of cancer of the lungs in
people
. Making it a crime would be a way of
government
protecting its
people
.
Also
, there would be less strain on resources
used
in the health sector. Money that previously would have
been allocated
to that industry can then be
used
for meeting more pressing needs, such as infrastructure and education.
A potential drawback of criminalizing
smoking
is the level of resources that would
be required
to implement and convict offenders. Considering how addictive a habit like
smoking
is, it would take
a lot of
monitoring to ensure compliance. This would
have to
be funded
by tax payers’ money which could be
used
for other more beneficial projects.
Secondly
, this policy would mean that
companies
that
currently
work in that industry would need to close down their factories or
change
completely their line of production. This would not
only
lead to loss of jobs by employees,
but
also
the loss of revenue to authorities in the form of taxes.
Therefore
,
instead
of making
smoking
illegal, other approaches may
be considered
.
For example
, the state can sensitize the public about the potential health hazards caused by
smoking
. Another strategy would be to increase consumption taxes on tobacco products. This would
make
it more expensive and
potentially
deter those that cannot afford it.
In conclusion
, although banning
smoking
has its advantages, it would have huge detrimental implications on the economy. Educating the public about the
risks
and making cigarettes unaffordable can be
also
be
given
a consideration.