Shiho

                                                       Smoking in Public Space

               In 2020, it is going to held Olympics in Tokyo, and people in Japan have to solve some problem to succeed it. One of these problem is smoking, and we are discussing smoking area. According to “Efforts to stop passive smoking”, government’s plan to limit to smoke in public space is opposed by Liberal Democratic Party because they insists if this plan pass, small establishments will not work. For example, in my country, most restaurant distinguish between smoking area and non-smoking area. However, small restaurant, such as Japanese-style pubs called Izakaya, which we can drink and eat in, don’t have distinction, and they can’t afford to set it up because some of them run it personally.

              In my country, the rate of smoker fell to a record low 18.2 percent in 2015, and smokers are minority. Therefore, many people argue risk of smoking. According to same article, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reported that 15,000 people die in Japan every year caused by passive smoking, including illness from smoking. In addition, WHO encourage countries to protect people from passive smoking, and 49 countries enforce a law that is to prohibit people from smoking in public space, including school and restaurant. However, only Japan has no penalty of smoking in public space. Therefore, some people ask for enforcing a law of smoking.

              By the way, how will we be influenced by smoking? We already know smoking is bad for our health, but recently many people said secondhand smoke is more harmful for health. Secondhand smoke is both the smoke from burning cigarette and the smoke from smoker, that is to say it is harmful even for non-smoker. According to “Secondhand Smoke is Toxic”, ten thousand people in America died or had serious illness because of secondhand smoke. In fact, secondhand smoke could lead to asthma in children who had not have any symptoms.

              I think smoking in public space should be banned by a law, because smoker is now minority, and we have some problem about smoke. For example, smoking could cause some illness of lung or blood vessel. Moreover, as I wrote before, secondhand smoke could influenced people who are surrounded by smoker. Some people said people who are surrounded by smoker have more risk than smoker. Additionally, recently tobacco tax has increased, and more people try to stop smoking. Therefore, I thought government should prohibit people from smoking in public. Thank you for reading.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2017/02/24/editorials/efforts-stop-passive-smoking/#.WLOMkIWcHIU

http://tobaccofreeca.com/secondhand-smoke/is-toxic/