China launches ban on smoking in public venues

China launches ban on smoking in public venues .
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1126037/1/.html



China launched a ban on smoking in restaurants, bars and other indoor public spaces on Sunday. After reading this article, I am truly glad that China finally realises the importance of baning smoking in indoor public venues. Firstly, I strongly believe that the majority of us are aware that China is the world's largest producer and consumer of tobacco which causes serious health problems in China. Smoking harms the smokers by putting them at a risk of developing lungs and heart diseases that may result in fatality. Moreover, it also harms the people who inhale tobacco smoke. These people are known as the second hand smokers who are at an even higher risk of developing lungs and heart diseases. I think that these people are the ones that need to be protected from the smokers as the inhalation of smoke produced by the tobacco causes their health to deteriorate unknowingly. I also feel that smoking indoors should be strictly prohibited as air indoors are not as well ventilated in comparison to outdoors. Hence, smoking indoors results in an increased concentration of smoke in the air we inhale.

Putting a ban on smoking in indoor public areas; this may not produce instantaneous results as it is highly impossible to quell smoking indoors effectively. The mindset of the people thus, becomes the challenge. It is dubious that everyone is willing to abide strictly to the rule voluntarily. After all, whether one is willing to change his habit, again, falls back to the basic principle of his mindset.

All in all, this ban adopted by China may not be thoroughly effective. Although many people in China will still continue to smoke indoors, but at the very least, this serves as a good start for China to encourage her citizens to stop smoking.


- CLAIRE TEO