In most nations of the world, the act of smoking is mostly an individual decision. Though there are social circumstances that push an individual to smoke, it is in essence of a personal decision. Cigarette smoking has adverse health effects both on individuals and the social health indicators, as well. As it will be argued below, most of these negative health indicators can be eliminated by minimizing smoking. Most governments under the advice from the World Health Organization have imposed excise duty on cigarette smoking. From an economic perspective, the governments will end up making massive profits, and as it will be demonstrated, the revenue they receive from cigarette sells has the potential to finance some health activities. Therefore, looking at this, the argument on cigarette smoking is determined in two core domains including the economic and health perspectives.
At present day, the populations have been educated and are more informed of the health dangers that develop from smoking. As per stated in the research conducted by United States General Accounting Office (2002), smoking has been proved by epidemiologists to be a risk factor for diseases such as cardiovascular disease, bronchitis, lung cancer, and many more chronic diseases. As a matter of fact, the report by United States General Accounting Office has critically undertaken survey regarding smoking and its affected population. The institution has undertaken a series of research reports because it is accountable for survey reports. Furthermore, it has been well addressed that as the smoke flows either through the mouth or nose, it does more damage to our bodies than good. The level of education influences the rate of smoking. As individuals climb above the education radar, they minimize the smoking incidences and prevalence. Therefore, if the learned themselves minimize aim to quit smoking, it demonstrates that they are aware of the dangers and aim to keep away from them. The table below as documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrates further as it is in the United States:
In addition, Dube in his research entitled ‘Cigarette smoking among adults and trends in smoking cessation--United States” stated that going by data from the smokers, most claims that they enjoy smoking. This is a very in-depth analysis of the problem in hand ,which leads to check the credibility of surveys and investigation being undertaken. In particular, the study of Dube has been thoroughly cited in almost 46 other smoking related researches.
It also included that smokers feel a special bondage with their fellow smokers. They feel good. This brings about the question on whether the governments have the right to take that from its citizens. Therefore, it brings on a question whether it is the right decision to take away the happiness of a fellow human being. However, from a health perspective, smokers tend to die at a younger age. This is to mean that with the opportunity cost in consideration, the citizens are bound to benefit longer with banning of cigarette smoking for they will live longer. The end, thus, justifies the means.
American Journal of Public Health further presented a statement that if cigarettes production and smoking was to be banned completely today, the outcome would be that many individuals would lose their jobs. The statement itself has been cited by a number of credible databases making it an evident fact. Individuals working in farms producing tobacco for cigarettes, factories, dealers, whole sellers and retailers would suffer greatly. This aspect is from an economic perspective which targets the productivity at the individual level. This is, therefore, a social setback.
According to the image above, the United States recorded that the tobacco industry scooped a total of up to $664 billion dollars revenue in 2010. In addition, the statistical information presented by Ash Organization estimated the figure to become greater than the GDP of all but eighteen nations. From the same view point, England records that between the years 2011-12, the government eventually earned a total of 12.1 billion euros in revenue from the taxation of tobacco that was inclusive of the VAT. The above noted estimation by Ash organization has been made in the report after evaluating previous literature available. This has been further, checked and implemented by a number of researchers. It has been stated in the research that after this, the government then ended up spending 88.2 million euros on services to help people to stop smoking plus another 66.4 million on medication to stop smoking. This is a demonstration therefore that, the revenues that the government was able to gather was massive despite the fact that it had to incur the costs that develop from cigarette smoking.
As per the research by Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the side effects of smoking are massive. Cancer of the blabber, cervix, blood, rectum and colon, esophagus, kidney and ureter, liver, larynx, stomach, trachea, bronchus, lung and pancreas are all triggered by smoking of cigarettes. The deaths resulting from smoking is up to 480,000 in the United States. This is an implication that it results to more than the combination of deaths resulting from alcohol use, illegal drug abuse, motor vehicle injuries, firearm related incidents and human immunodeficiency. Smoking affects pregnancy and the baby’s health, affects men’s fertility, bone health, teeth and gums and rheumatoid arthritis. The above quoted information is surely credible making the research much understandable because Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been involved in research as its annual goal of finding methods of prevention.
Conclusion
Cigarette consumption should be banned. This is because the benefits of smoking, if any, do not exist at the individual level. The benefits may be notable at the level of the state in terms of the revenue generated. Looking deeper, however, the productivity of individuals is bound to decrease marginally as a result of cigarette consumption. The mortality and morbidity levels due to cigarette consumption are always increasing. Health in itself, according to economists, is an investment bearing in mind that healthy days result in more productive days that have a positive impact on the economy. With the banning of cigarette smoking, the government would have to come up with healthier ways of earning more revenues and creating new job opportunities. The bottom line will still stand with the current evidence that cigarette smoking causes more harm than good.
Works Cited
Alamar, B. "Effect of Increased Social Unacceptability of Cigarette Smoking On Reduction in Cigarette Consumption." American Journal of Public Health 96.8 (2006): 1359-1363. Print.
Ash.org. Smoking statistics. New York: Ash Organization, 2014. http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_93.pdf.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Cigarette Smoking in the United States." 27 March 2013. Cdc.gov. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resources/data/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states. 03 March 2014.
Dube, S.R. Asman. "Cigarette smoking among adults and trends in smoking cessation--United States." Morbidity and mortality weekly report 13 November 2008: 53. Print.
United States General Accounting Office. "CDC’s April 2002 Report On Smoking: Estimates of Selected Health." Report on Health Consequences of Smoking 51.14 (2002): 1-19. Print.
