I Totally Agree with the Smoking Ban

 
    Worldwide, more and more people are becoming interested in their health. In Korea, the legal prohibition of smoking indoors is gaining more attention. Even though smoking should remain legal, there needs to be government control for the protection of non-somker health.
    Though a lot of smokers prefer to drink alcohol while smoking, bystanders should not be negatively affected by the smoke. As a non-smoker, I always feel uncomfortable with the smell of cigarettes when I am in a building,. If the law to ban smoking is applied to all buildings, most non-smokers would be happy.
    There should be some places where smokers can freely smoke. For example, in coffee shops, smoking areas are separated from nonsmoking areas. Thus, in the application of anti-smoking laws, designated smoking areas should be made available.
    As mentioned above, a number of people are becoming more concerned about their health; non-smokers have the right to protect themselves from second-hand smoke. Moreover, this stance is not to prevent smokers from smoking, but to regulate the areas where they can smoke. This would be widely welcomed by a lot of people. This law is not about changing smoker behavior. It’s about protecting the public.

 

By Kim Moon-su, Junior
Dept. of Architecture

 

We Should Apply This Rule in Our Daily Lives, But a Compromise for Smokers Must be Considered

 
    Few days ago, I had dinner in a sushi restaurant with my friends near the school. Inside, some old men were smoking. The restaurant staff let them smoke without caring about all the non-the smokers. Near the smokers, there were some families with children. At that time, I thought deeply about my support for the new smoking ban legislation.
    First of all, public places are filled with children, pregnant women, and people with respiratory diseases. Smoke from cigarettes negatively affects these people. Most internet cafes have divided seats for smokers and non-smokers. However, the distance between the two is not enough to separate fumes from the smoke.
    In addition, people are unlikely to take the rule seriously if punishment is not be implemented. If people are required to pay considerable amount of money for breaking rule, they will abide by the law.
    Last, I think lawmakers should create alternative location for smokers. They need some places to relieve their stress. The law, as it stands, is severe on smokers. 
    In summary, I support the non-smoking law for the sake of children, babies, and sick people. Fines are necessary to assure compliance. However, we should respect not only non-smokers’ rights but smokers’ right as well. Making special areas for smokers near public place could be a solution to respect each everyone’s rights.

 

By Park Ji-hyeon, Junior
Dept. of Bio-environmental chemistry

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