Here is a sample post - notice the details, explanations, reference to both sides and personal opinion.
The ban of smoking in public places is a popular topic of discussion. Advocates of the right to smoke believe there should be rights for smokers as well as non-smokers. These groups believe that smokers have been unjustifiably persecuted for their choice and that the government targets smokers more than any other group. If the government is allowed to take away one's right to choose where and when they can smoke, they will likely start taking away other rights as well. More information can be found on Forces Canada's website (http://www.forces.org/canada/files/about.htm). While there are no health benefits to smoking, some individuals do believe there are a few major advantages of smoking. First, it removes one's anxiety at difficult time for instance during exams or problems at work. Secondly, to some it works as a companion and makes individuals feel less lonely especially in the social company of other smokers. Lastly, it helps to pass the time.
However, the negative health effects of smoking and second-hand smoke can not be ignored when looking at an individual's right to smoke in public places. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death and disease. Cigarettes cause more deaths than cocaine, auto accidents, AIDS, alcohol, heroin, fire, suicide and homicide combined. Worldwide, the toll exacted by tobacco use is two to three million deaths each year. Of the world's 1.2 billion smokers, the world health Organization estimates that 500 million of them will die because of smoking. This means that 9% of people now alive will die from cigarettes.
In most cases, the decision to smoke is not made by adults. Sixty percent of smokers start by the age of 14, and 90% of smokers are firmly addicted before reaching age 19. Stated another way, only one in ten smokers become addicted after the age of 19 and almost no one starts smoking after age 19 (http://www.anti-smoking.org/theproblem.htm).
Focusing on smoking in public places, there are three clear reasons why I believe it should be banned completely. Firstly, smoking is harmful for non-smokers. Smokers should have the right to smoke, but it's not reasonable if that right is harmful to others. Obviously, if people smoke in public places, non-smokers have no choice but to become secondhand smokers. Secondly, smoking is a cause of pollution. There is a lot of research that shows that many kinds of gases that are released by smoking and are harmful for the environment, such as tar and carbon dioxide. Lastly, smokers have other ways to receive nicotine. Nowadays, we have many ways to receive nicotine, such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches. Smokers can use these products instead of smoking which would benefit everyone involved (http://www.topics-mag.com/edition7/smoking-no.htm).
In my opinion, smoking must be banned in public places. It is the responsibility of the government to protect and educate all of society on the dangers of smoking.
