SMOKING BAN

As the government has imposed a new law recently which forbids the sale of tabacco, I am going to talk about this smoking ban, because as far as I’m aware, this issue has been discussed all over the country. What is more, due to the tough law, people have wrangled about this topic. Therefore, I will give my view.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m for it, so I will argue it reasonably. First of all, I think that this idea is great, because It’s not that the government want to bother us, but they try to encourage people to give up smoking as well as banning to smoke in establishments in order not to annoy the people who aren’t smokers. Furthermore, It’s seems to me that the latter could diminish the smoky atmosphere in bars or pubs, where you can’t cope with that.

Otherwise, the owners of establishments could be ruined owing to the new ban. Moreover, it is believed that the costumers, who used to go for a coffee, let their coffee go as they can’t do their diary cigarette. So, the owners are worried. For this reason, the people who run a bar have been claiming for altering what could be the cause of being broke.

To sum up, on one hand, I’m for the law because it could be the point which ends with diseases. On the other hand, I’m against because lots of workers depend on these people who used to go to the bar in order to have a coffee as well as smoking their diary cigarette.

Salomé Mir Sánchez

SMOKING BAN

A new law came into force in Spain on the 2nd January prohibiting to smoke in some public places, such as bars, restaurants, schools, hospitals and so on. Another law, which was implanted a few years before, wasn’t successful, because the number of smokers increased instead of going down (the law made restaurants and bars have a specific area for smokers and another one for the non-smokers… it was a foolish idea, because the smoke could be breathed everywhere). Experts think that this new law will have better results.

On the one hand, I think it’s a good idea to ban smoking in some places because for those who don’t smoke (like me, for example) smoke is something that bothers. When you are in touch with it (for example while you’re eating in a restaurant), then clothes smell really bad. On the other hand, I can understand the smokers (and how difficult it is to stop smoking, because I have some examples in my family, some of them have been able to stop, while others have such a big habit that they can’t stop smoking) and the owners of the establishments where now it’s prohibited to smoke, because there’s a large number of customers who visit their business and meanwhile they have a cigarette, and as now it isn’t possible to have a cigarette, they won’t go there. This will harm bars, pubs, restaurants, discos etc. because if people don’t go there, the sale of tobacco and the benefits and income of the owners will decrease.

Can this law lower the consumption of tobacco? Yes, it’s possible, but I disagree with this idea, in my opinion, if people want to continue smoking they will, even though they have to stay at home or outside where they are. I also think that the law is too strict. There are too many places where it’s forbidden to smoke. It’s a great idea not to smoke in hospitals or schools (as a respect to the patients and the children) because it’s a good way of being healthy and for children it’s also good to grow up happily and breathing pure air.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that for me (and I’m sorry for the smokers) it’s a really good idea to ban smoking in public places, I’m really happy because of this… because I can’t stand smoke’s smell.

Cristina Melià 2nd Batxillerat B