selling tobacco should be banned essay wikipedia

PERSPECTIVE article

A call to ban the sale of tobacco products.

$\nZhaohui Su$

1 School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
2 Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland
3 Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China
4 Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
5 Rufaidah Nursing College, Peshawar, Pakistan
6 Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
7 Marketing, Fundação Dom Cabral—FDC, Nova Lima, MG, Brazil

Tobacco is both toxic and addictive. Mounting evidence shows that tobacco use has a detrimental impact on almost every aspect of human health, causing or worsening deadly public health crises from the cancer epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while tobacco use is a threat to both personal and public health, it continues to surge across the world, especially in China and other low- and middle-income countries. To this end, this article argues in favor of using a ban on the sale of all tobacco products as a practical solution to the global tobacco use epidemic. It is our hope that insights provided by our work will inspire swift policy actions in countries such as China and beyond to curb the tide of rising tobacco consumption, so that populations around the world could be better shielded from the pervasive and long-lasting damage that tobacco products cause or compound.

Introduction

Tobacco is toxic. A preponderance of evidence shows that tobacco smoking has a detrimental impact on almost every aspect of human health, causing or worsening deadly epidemics from cancer to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ( 1 ). Yet, despite the growing body of evidence that reinforces and restates its damaging impacts on personal and public health ( 2 – 7 ), tobacco use remains prevalent across the globe. Analyses, for instance, showed that, in 2019, there were 1.14 billion people who were current smokers; throughout a period of nearly three decades, they consumed more than 7.4 trillion cigarette equivalents of tobacco products ( 8 ). This cumulative consumption has exerted a sobering toll on society. Approximately 8 million lives have been lost to tobacco-related diseases each year ( 9 ), making the global death toll from tobacco use greater than the mortality of AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Tobacco use is also highly addictive. In a 2018–2019 analysis of 87,709 participants aged 20–69 in China, researchers found that against the backdrop of an already high prevalence of 25.1% of current smoking, men in China had an even higher rate−47.6% ( 10 ). These sobering statistics help explain why once people initiate and become accustomed to tobacco use, the addiction becomes entrenched and exceedingly difficult to manage, even when there is access to evidence-based interventions that are easy to adopt, such as technology-based programs ( 11 ).

Taken together, these revelations explain why tobacco use exerts such a heavy burden on society—it costs the global economy $1.4 trillion each year, ranging from expenses incurred from healthcare utilization, lost productivity, fire damage, to cigarette litter-induced environmental harm ( 12 ). Unfortunately, these alarming data and trends are not subsiding, underscoring the growing need for more effective interventions to curb tobacco use around the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries—where over 80% of tobacco users live, individuals who often lack access to health care infrastructure that is essential to effectively treat and manage their addiction ( 1 ).

Although global tobacco control efforts have been ongoing for quite some time ( 13 – 21 ), they are often too fragmented to comprehensively address the tobacco use epidemic in a fundamental fashion—people's exposure and easy access to tobacco products. This means that, rather than incentivizing the tobacco industry to transform its businesses into those that focus on health-promoting goods or services, existing tobacco control policies often contain too many loopholes that allow these companies to circumvent accountability for their products' negative health impacts. Ranging from surreptitious marketing practices to the wide dissemination of addictive e-cigarettes ( 22 – 24 ), the industry has continued to perpetuate the global tobacco epidemic rather than to temper it. Even the recent tobacco control policy developed by the United States (U.S.), which aims to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes and related products ( 25 ), may lead to mixed results or unintended consequences. Announced in April 2022 and considered a public health win, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's draft rule may be too narrow to limit or discourage people's access to tobacco products ( 26 ). A 2022 study that gauges current American smokers' responses to the forthcoming ban shows that 51% of the participants, who were recruited online anonymously, said they would use non-flavored cigarettes as alternatives ( 27 ).

Policies that can be bypassed by alternative tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes) could also inadvertently promote tobacco use and pose unnecessary barriers to people who are trying to quit. Analyzing findings of three randomized controlled trials that involve 1,607 smokers, for instance, researchers found that, compared to gradual cessation, abrupt smoking cessation is more likely to yield positive outcomes ( 28 ). This research suggests that a number of ongoing factors continue to counter the years of interventions implemented to reduce tobacco use. The fact that tobacco consumption remains a global epidemic around the world, underscores the urgent need for further tobacco control actions especially policies that are more comprehensive and could more directly reduce the tobacco industry's ability to expand public access and exposure to tobacco products. To this end, this article explores the advantages and potential trade-offs of a ban on the sale of all tobacco products as a practical policy intervention for combatting the global tobacco epidemic. Using China as an example, we argue that such a ban in a country with the world's largest population is (1) reasonable, (2) feasible, and (3) can benefit the broader global community. Any change, however small, in China (given the size of its population—around 1.5 billion people—and the scope of its economy—second-largest globally in terms of its gross domestic product) can profoundly help move the needle forward to stem the tide of tobacco use worldwide.

Secondhand smoke: An unintended consequence of using tobacco products

A tobacco product could be understood as “a product that can be consumed and consists, even partly, of tobacco” ( 29 ). In the context of this article, tobacco products refer to both conventional (e.g., cigarettes) and newer iterations (e.g., e-cigarettes). Unlike nutritious foods and effective medicines, which are essential for maintaining and sustaining personal and public health, tobacco products are deleterious and dispensable. Different from substances that are beneficial to human health and productivity, such as tea and coffee ( 30 – 32 ), almost all aspects of tobacco consumption are detrimental to personal and public health ( 33 ). Tobacco's damaging impacts on global health centers on its unique mode of consumption. Different from other addictive substances like cocaine, the smoke generated by tobacco products not only harms the health of the direct users (i.e., smokers), but also that of people who happen to be in the vicinity of the secondhand smoke.

In an analysis of data from 1990 to 2016, researchers found that even though progress has been made, the consequences of tobacco use on non-smokers remain high—i.e., in 2016, for every group of 52.3 individuals who smoked a mean of 24 years, there was an associated death of 1 individual attributable to secondhand smoke exposure ( 34 ). Though most, if not all, governments across the world agree on the end goal when it comes to tobacco control—elimination or eradication of tobacco use across society, especially among the young and vulnerable, they differ drastically in terms of the measures they implement to regulate tobacco use ( 33 ). One important example is China—the country is struggling with the damage that tobacco use has already caused but yet has the opportunity to make meaningful impacts by adopting and implementing a more coordinated tobacco control effort via a ban on tobacco products.

Case example: Impact of tobacco use in China

When it comes to tobacco products, China is simultaneously the world's largest producer, the biggest consumer, and its most traumatized victim ( 35 ). In a study of 71 countries—accounting for over 95% of the world's total cigarette use and 85% of the global population—between 1970 and 2015, researchers found that not only has China's tobacco use been skyrocketing, but its total consumption of cigarettes, in 2013 alone, was 2.5 million metric tons (MMT); this was greater than the combined consumption of the next 39 highest countries during the same period, including Russia (0.36 MMT), the U.S. (0.28 MMT), and Japan (0.20MMT) ( 36 ). Comparatively, China bears arguably the most alarming toll of tobacco use worldwide. It is estimated that approximately 4,100 people per day in China died from tobacco-related diseases (estimate from 2022) ( 37 ). This sobering statistic is projected to jump to 6,000 deaths per day−3 million per year—by 2050, if effective interventions are not taken or remain a low priority in the country ( 37 ). The high prevalence of tobacco use in China is even more chilling if the negative impacts of secondhand smoke exposure are considered. The World Health Organization reports that over 700 million non-smokers in China are exposed to secondhand smoke, among which, 180 million are children ( 35 ). Yet despite the sobering toll of tobacco use, the evidence of which has been accumulating for decades ( 38 – 41 ), China has been lagging behind in developing and adopting impactful policies and other effective tobacco control interventions to fight the growing health and socioeconomic repercussions caused by this adverse behavior ( 42 ).

More stringent tobacco control policies and related interventions are needed

As illustrated in Table 1 , meaningful tobacco control policies, especially those that can promote material changes in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality rates in the population have historically been negligible in countries like China. By contrast, tobacco control efforts have been more robust in developed nations such as the U.S. In spite of highly visible home to household tobacco brands such as Marlboro and powerful tobacco industry advertising, which normalized and socialized smoking with the zeitgeist at the time—from personal liberty to women's rights ( 75 – 77 ), the U.S. has been able to gradually and substantively reduce tobacco use among its diverse populations during the past several decades ( 78 ). Between 2000 and 2020, adult smoking rates in the U.S. dropped from 33.8 to 23.0% ( 78 ). Similar achievements have been observed in other countries such as India, the United Kingdom and Brazil. China, as one of the largest countries in the world, did not share in these improvements (see Figure 1 ) ( 78 ), though the scale, scope, and severity of its tobacco epidemic are simply too glaring to ignore, especially when they are coupled with known shortcomings of moderate control policies. These insights, collectively, suggest that stronger and more straightforward legislative actions, such as a ban on the sale of all tobacco products across the entire country ( 79 – 82 ), are urgently needed to avoid the catastrophic health and socioeconomic consequences that will likely mushroom as a result of the country's ever-growing tobacco use epidemic.

Table 1 . Historical timeline: Key factors that shape tobacco use in the U.S. and China.

Figure 1 . Percent of adult smokers from each of the selected countries, 2000 and 2020. Data source: The World Health Organization; Adults: people aged 15 years and older.

A ban on the sale of tobacco products

A ban on the sale of tobacco products is the prohibition of the sale or purchase of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, across sectors of society within its borders. Again, using China as an example, this means that all business-to-business or person-to-person exchanges of tobacco products will be prohibited in the country, including international e-commerce. Different from a comprehensive ban on all tobacco-related activities, like the one adopted in Bhutan ( 83 ), a ban on the sale of tobacco products would only prohibit the exchange of tobacco products—both legally or in the back market within the borders of China, as opposed to controlling people's rights to access or use of tobacco products, not the least of which because the latter raised legal issues and could be extremely difficult to monitor or control. Under a sales ban, residents in China could still make international trips to obtain tobacco products, or for those who are truly determined, grow their own tobacco leaves, but they are not allowed to exchange these products. Similarly, tobacco farmers and corporations could still grow or manufacture tobacco products, but these products would not be allowed to be sold to people living in China. Compared to existing strategies, this policy intervention bears a multitude of advantages, most of which are its feasibility and practicality, not to mention a strong first step forward in addressing China's tobacco use epidemic.

Feasibility of establishing the ban

There are a number of reasons to call for action on a ban on the sale of all tobacco products. First, such a ban is simple and straightforward to understand and to implement. A common pitfall of many existing tobacco regulations is that they are often too complicated for the general public to understand or appreciate ( 84 ). A ban on the sale of all tobacco products means that tobacco products will no longer be available in the marketplace, or exchanged between people or businesses—a relatively straightforward policy that can be understood by tobacco users across age, education, or other socio-demographic spectra, as well as by other stakeholders such as sellers, marketers, and law enforcement agencies. A ban on the sale of all tobacco products is less complex than nuanced bans that are often seen in developed countries. A straightforward ban would also be more in line with many developing countries' public health realities. Different from high-income nations like the U.S., which have been changing the public's attitudes toward tobacco consumption for decades, countries like China, which have a more pronounced prevalence of smoking and less available public health resources, may need more rigorous and less reserved interventions to prevent their tobacco use epidemic from further expanding in a timely manner. A ban on the sale of all tobacco products, regardless of their flavors or modes of consumption, would be much easier to follow and carry out under these countries' circumstances.

Second, the people-first focus of the proposed ban could help facilitate public adherence. As opposed to prioritizing politics or profits, a ban on the sale of all tobacco products validates the government's determination and devotion to protecting public health, above and beyond short-term considerations such as political gains or losses. Considering the Chinese government's recent response to the COVID-19 pandemic, using a whole-of-society zero-COVID strategy approach, a direct and people-first policy from the government is not unattainable and could help the public better understand and appreciate the severity of the global tobacco use epidemic and adjust their mindset accordingly to comply with the policy. Third, similar to other countries that are burdened with the tobacco use epidemic, China has the urgency and the capacity to carry out a ban on the sale of all tobacco products successfully. Presently, approximately one in every three global tobacco users lives in China ( 9 )—populations that are likely to both personify and perpetuate the country's raging double-whammy epidemics—the tobacco use epidemic and the cancer epidemic ( 85 ).

Fourth, in addition to tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, China's economic health is considerably compromised by the tobacco use epidemic. It is estimated that, in 2017 alone, the economic tolls of lung cancer on the country have reached over $25 billion ( 86 ), a considerable amount of financial burden that a ban on the sale of tobacco products could help in lowering. As such, China has the administrative motivation to carry out whole-of-society policies like a ban on the sale of all tobacco products across society. Fifth, and perhaps most importantly, China has the agency to ban the sale of tobacco products. For starters, the world's largest producer of cigarettes, China National Tobacco Corporation, is state-owned. On one hand, the nature of the company reveals how entrenched the tobacco industry is in the administrative fabric of China ( 87 ). But on the other hand, this also means that as long as officials in China are willing and committed, they could effectively implement a ban on the sale of all tobacco products without the need of back-and-forth negotiations with private sectors, as seen in other countries ( 88 ).

The largely state-owned nature of China's tobacco industry means that, when political will is well-established, government officials can instruct and transform its existing tobacco industry workforce into other industries that do not produce products that are debilitating to national and global health. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect children and adolescents from becoming too addicted to online gaming, China successfully regulated the duration of which youths could be exposed to these entertainment venues ( 89 ). In a similar vein, to alleviate the burden on school students and their parents, in 2021, China also banned for-profit private tutoring across the country ( 90 ). Taken together, these recent events and actions by China suggest that the world's largest country (by population size) has the capability to ban the sale of all tobacco products within its borders. It would be impactful if this can be accomplished by China in a timely manner, since, substance use, which is highly associated with tobacco use, has been prevalent and is on the rise across the globe ( 91 ). By designing, developing, and delivering bans that could eradicate the public's vulnerability toward addictive substances like tobacco, China could serve as a harbinger in the protection of the health and quality of life of the global community, above and beyond those living within its borders.

The broader implications and potential effects of banning tobacco products

The impacts of a ban on the sale of tobacco products could be largely categorized into two types: desirable outcomes and unintended consequences. A wide range of positive changes could be expected from the said ban. First, in addition to the welcoming impacts on society discussed earlier, a ban on the sale of tobacco products could also help countries across the globe better cope with the negative consequences of COVID-19 on personal and public health. Recurring evidence shows that COVID-19 could cause greater adverse health consequences to people with damaged lungs, such as tobacco users ( 3 , 92 , 93 ). A review of evidence on 32,849 COVID-19 patients across the globe shows that people with any smoking history experienced significantly more severe COVID-19 symptoms and worse hospitalization outcomes compared to non-users ( 92 ). In a study of 6,003 Italian adults amid the pandemic, researchers found that the total tobacco consumption has further increased by 9.1% ( 94 ). These findings suggest that there may be a vicious cycle between tobacco use and heightened COVID-19 risks. As COVID-19 continues evolving ( 95 – 99 ), and, paired with the rising presence of infectious diseases and geopolitical conflicts that could be equally damaging to our health systems ( 100 – 103 ), a ban on the sale of tobacco products should also be seen as an even more necessary step, since the vicious cycle between tobacco use and COVID-19 infections has been shown to worsen health conditions and lead to severe COVID-19 disease and death.

Second, a reduction in tobacco use could also persuade tobacco growers and producers to switch to other products or industries that do not harm planetary health. If history is a sagacious guide, the ultimate market force—synergistic dynamics between supply and demand—could be the best shadow policymaker for phasing out the tobacco industry. A ban on tobacco sale (demand drops) could lead to a material reduction in the marketability of tobacco products (short-term loss of profitability), which in turn, has the potential to incentivize tobacco farmers and producers to grow and market health-promoting crops instead of tobacco (long-term supply chain transformation). This would, effectively leverage the market forces and strategically use them to promote positive societal changes. Considering Chinese consumers' growing purchasing power and subsequent sway in the global economy (China has the largest population in the world and a growing economy), and the fact that China's largely state-owned tobacco industry is closely connected with the global tobacco scene ( 50 , 104 ), the said ban, when optimally executed, has the potential to reduce the global presence of tobacco products right away in terms of sales and usage—the ultimate goal we hope tobacco control policies could achieve.

Third, it is also important to note that a ban on the sale of all tobacco products has the potential to introduce unintended consequences, such as enabling or deepening illicit markets for tobacco products. However, the potential for inadvertent outcomes neither means that they could not be predicted nor prevented. Policymakers in China and elsewhere, for example, could collaborate with researchers in academia, practitioners in the tobacco industry, public relations professionals and other experts and stakeholders to ensure that these unintended consequences are properly mitigated. Essentially, all policy interventions can yield both wanted and unwanted outcomes. A ban that could have unintended results should hardly surprise policymakers. Rather than pouring valuable public resources into developing less effective tobacco control policies, we believe it is more sensible and practical to invest in decisive intervention mechanisms, like the proposed ban, as its strength of impact and benefits should likely outweigh its unintended consequences (if any).

Tobacco is toxic and addictive. The preponderance of evidence on tobacco use's harm substantiates the call for a stronger, more straightforward policy intervention that bans the sale of all tobacco products, especially for developed countries that are lagging behind in tobacco control wins and for developing countries that have limited public health infrastructure or resources to launch multi-modal campaigns to counter the tobacco industry's aggressive sales and advertising of tobacco products. Using China as an example, this article presented key rationales for advocating the adoption and implementation of such a ban, suggesting that it is a practical policy intervention for the world stage. It is our hope that the insights provided in this perspective will inspire swift policy actions in curbing tobacco use across the globe. In places like China where the population is enormous and the health infrastructure is tenuous, even an incremental change in the prevalence of tobacco use could lead to significant improvements in tobacco-related healthcare utilization and costs, as well as salutary decreases in human suffering from predictable and preventable tobacco-related diseases and deaths. Time is ripe for society to control the tobacco epidemic with a bang.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.

Author contributions

ZS, DM, AC, JA, SŠ, and CV conceptualized this work, reviewed the literature, as well as drafted and edited the manuscript for intellectual content.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the editor and reviewers for their constructive input and kind feedback.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Abbreviations

COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; MMT, million metric tons; U.S., United States; FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Keywords: tobacco industry, ban, cancer, public health, health policy, intervention

Citation: Su Z, McDonnell D, Cheshmehzangi A, Ahmad J, Šegalo S and da Veiga CP (2022) A call to ban the sale of tobacco products. Front. Public Health 10:904971. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.904971

Received: 28 March 2022; Accepted: 26 July 2022; Published: 10 November 2022.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2022 Su, McDonnell, Cheshmehzangi, Ahmad, Šegalo and da Veiga. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Zhaohui Su, suzhaohuiszh@yeah.net ; Claudimar Pereira da Veiga, claudimar.veiga@fdc.org.br ; claudimar.veiga@gmail.com

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Van with message from Cancer Research UK urging MPs to back smoking ban, London, 16 April 2024.

The UK’s smoking ban is government meddling at its worst and most pointless

Tobacco is already on its way out. The state should not deny adults the right to make personal decisions for themselves

J ust because Liz Truss and Boris Johnson – both opposed to the government’s proposed new smoking ban – hold a belief does not make it wrong. Smoking is unpleasant, but in this week’s parliamentary debate, the word nicotine could have been replaced by cannabis, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, base jumping or mobile phones for children. All have their dangers. But in each case those in favour of restrictions rely on the same argument; if something produces a burden on the state it should be banned. Personal liberty can go hang.

Rishi Sunak’s anti-smoking bill carried the same smudgy fingerprints as his bill on Rwanda. It suggested a late-night Downing Street cabal desperate for somethingeye-catching to inject into the election campaign. It does not ban anyone from smoking, despite appearances. It bans shops from selling cigarettes to an ever-expanding age cohort, currently anyone under 18, with the legal cutoff increasing by one year each year. People born in or after 2009, in other words, will never be able to legally buy a cigarette in Britain. The bill’s target is shopkeepers, charged with juggling the ID cards of hordes of adult purchasers and presumably proxy buyers. The smugglers must be cheering.

So far Britain’s efforts to curb smoking – built on the nudge principle – have been remarkably effective. This has been achieved, as many economists would advise, by working on demand rather than supply. Cigarette use has fallen over the past half-century from about 45% of the population in 1974 to about 12% today and it continues to fall. The method has been to stop smoking indoors, in public enclosed spaces and around children. Advertising has been banned, vending machines abolished and children cannot buy cigarettes. The introduction of vaping, though controversial when it’s young people doing it, is understood to have helped accelerate the fall in smoking, as per the drug policy charity Transform. That vaping can reduce smoking is backed up by data from Australia, where vapes were effectively banned in 2021 and the result has been no cut in smoking – indeed, there’s been a small rise.

For all that, more than 6 million Britons still smoke, their burden on the NHS relieved only by their paying £10bn in tobacco taxes and dying – on average – younger. Despite the comfort smoking has long brought to many people – not everyone is a nicotine addict – there must be a public interest in discouraging its consumption. In its lengthy study of this debate, Transform comes down firmly in favour of simply extending what has worked. When in 2007 Britain raised the age from 16 to 18 it led to an estimated 30% fall in smoking by that age group, a remarkable achievement. In the US, raising the age to 21 in 2019 led to an even greater fall of 39%. A similar raise to 21 is surely what the British government should now do. Unlike Sunak’s staggered ban, which may take five years to take effect, this change could be introduced at once. The only other country to propose his “ID-card ban” has been New Zealand. Its unpopularity and a change of government have seen it abandoned .

We also see the heavy hand of the state in Britain’s failed drugs policies. The global “war on drugs” has been an unmitigated disaster, built as it was on the thesis that demand would end if supply was stamped out. The only regime to prove remotely effective in curbing supply is the Taliban in Afghanistan – and that may not last. Politicians everywhere have preferred to see gangsters triumph, crime soar, jails become crammed and their children ruined, rather than show the guts to decriminalise , regulate and control the hugely lucrative and dynamic drugs industry.

Governments across Europe – most recently in Germany – are testing how to handle recreational and other sorts of drug. They are experimenting with licensing, taxation, product regulation, publicity and public education. Some approaches work, some do not. The British government has adopted a workable policy on the smoking of tobacco by young people. Its record on nicotine control is widely regarded as a success – as its record on other narcotics is a raging failure. As Transform points out, “Tobacco control … is one key aspect of drug policy where the UK has not been shockingly poor by global standards.” The reason appears to be that it has treated “smoking as a public health challenge, led by health agencies, rather than an enforcement challenge led by the Home Office”. Sunak’s smoking ban would have the same defects as the cannabis ban. Complicated government is always bad government.

Tobacco control offers an intriguing testing ground for what is now the fast-liberalising market for drugs across Europe. Realistic and fair regulation will be hard but it must come in if millions are not to die prematurely. The misuse of opioids is now approaching pandemic status across the US.

At every turn, the state is inviting itself to delve ever deeper into the lives and ethics of its citizens – accusations that are constantly thrown at authoritarian governments. It seeks to relieve us of responsibility for personal decisions and deny us freedom of choice. It rules on the food we eat and the drinks we drink, on the right to criticise and on how we discipline or indulge our children. Britain does not need gimmicks such as cigarette passports. Tobacco is a menace but one that’s on the way out. Other addictions should now claim our attention.

Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

Tobacco industry
Young people

UK set to ban tobacco sales for a ‘smoke-free’ generation. Will it work?

The UK’s smoking ban aims to phase out sales of tobacco, which is one of the main causes of cancer deaths in Britain.

A woman holds her cigarette as she smokes in Trafalgar Square in central London

Britain is set to impose tough measures to stub out smoking, which has emerged as one of the biggest causes of cancer deaths in the country.

Parliament approved the government’s “historic” plans to create a “smoke-free” generation on Tuesday in a bid to reduce the number of people dying from smoking-related diseases, a big burden on the country’s publicly funded National Health Service (NHS).

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MPs voted 383-67 to give the Tobacco and Vapes Bill a second reading, overcoming vocal opposition from a section of the ruling Conservative Party, which opposes state interference in people’s lives. It now needs approval from the House of Lords to come into effect. No party in the 790-member Lords has an overall majority, but the Conservatives outweigh Labour 278-173.

“Parliament has now begun the process of consigning smoking to the ash heap of history,” Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the pressure group Action on Smoking and Health, told Al Jazeera.

“The passage of the bill should be expedited to ensure it is on the statute book before the general election. The public, who overwhelmingly support the legislation, expect nothing less,” she said.

An advertisement on the Age of Sale legislation is seen in Westminister in London

What does the UK’s ban cover?

Rather than criminalising the habit, the bill aims to ensure people turning 15 this year and those who are younger will never be able to legally buy tobacco.

Currently, it is illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. The government intends to bar sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009. Under the legislation, beginning in 2027, the legal age limit would increase by one year every year until it is illegal for the entire population.

If all goes according to plan, the government envisages that smoking among young people would be eradicated by 2040.

Shops in England and Wales caught selling cigarettes and vapes to underage people would face on-the-spot fines of 100 pounds ($125). Courts may already impose fines of 2,500 pounds ($3,118).

“We do expect over time, smoking to die out almost completely,” said Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, speaking on BBC Radio 4.

What’s behind the UK’s new rules?

Smoking is the United Kingdom’s biggest preventable killer.

About 13 percent of the adult population – 6.4 million people – were smokers in the UK in 2022, the Office for National Statistics estimated.

That is much lower than other European countries such as Italy, Germany and France, where 18 to 23 percent of adults smoke, according to figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Official figures show the habit leads to 64,000 deaths in England per year, causing about one in four deaths from cancer .

Medical and healthcare experts and charities say the toll is higher, estimating that smoking causes 80,000 deaths every year.

With the new ban, the UK government hopes to prevent more than 470,000 cases of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and other diseases by the end of the century.

The legislation also seeks to clamp down on young people vaping by restricting flavours and packaging to make it less appealing to children. The jury is still out on vaping with the NHS judging it as “not risk-free”.

How is the ban viewed?

Pollsters found about two-thirds of people in the UK back a phased smoking ban.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told the House of Commons there is “no liberty in addiction”.

“Nicotine robs people of their freedom to choose. The vast majority of smokers start when they are young, and three-quarters say that if they could turn back the clock, they would not have started,” she said.

But libertarian-leaning MPs on the right of the ruling Conservatives, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, have branded the move an attack on personal freedoms. During the parliamentary debate, Truss said it was a piece of “virtue-signalling”.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said she was not a smoker and agreed with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s intentions but said she opposed the bill because she was concerned about its impact on people’s rights and difficulty in enforcing the policy.

“We should not treat legally competent adults differently in this way where people born a day apart will have permanently different rights,” she said on the social media platform X.

I’m not a smoker and think it is an unpleasant habit, costly for both the individual and society. The PM's intentions with this Bill are honest and mark him out as a leader who doesn't duck the thorny issues. I agree with his policy intentions BUT….(1/4) — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) April 16, 2024

The legislation is one of Sunak’s flagship policies before the general election this year, which opinion polls suggest the opposition Labour Party would win.

“It’s world-leading in terms of reducing harms caused by tobacco and may lead to other countries following suit with similar measures,” said Dr Allen Gallagher, a research fellow in the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath.

Other approaches tried so far include price and tax measures, regulating the content of tobacco products, packaging and labelling measures, and advertising restrictions.

“This is the first test of a generational phasing-out of tobacco,” Gallagher told Al Jazeera.

“Time will tell if it’s enough.”

Have other countries imposed similar anti-smoking bans?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills more than eight million people each year, including an estimated 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke.

The proposed ban is thought to have been inspired by a similar plan in New Zealand, introduced under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern but scrapped this year by the new coalition government before it could be enforced. By stopping a generation from taking up smoking, the country of five million hoped to avoid about 5,000 preventable deaths a year.

In May, Portugal presented legislation to restrict tobacco sales and extend a ban on smoking to outdoor areas, including covered terraces. The country hopes to raise a tobacco-free generation by 2040. According to government estimates, about 13,500 deaths in 2019 were due to tobacco use in Portugal, which has a population of about 10 million.

Last year, Mexico brought one of the world’s most stringent smoking laws into force, implementing a total ban in public places, including hotels, beaches and parks, and stopping advertising. The WHO’s Pan American Health Organisation (PAWHO) estimated that smoking causes more than 10 percent of deaths in the country of 128 million, amounting to about 63,000 per year.

Also last year, Canada became the first country to introduce printed health warnings on individual cigarettes. Messages include “poison in every puff” and “cigarettes cause impotence”. Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in the country of 39 million, killing approximately 48,000 people each year.

Since 2002, India has had a ban on smoking in public spaces although organisations can create specific smoking zones.

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Front Public Health

A call to ban the sale of tobacco products

1 School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

Dean McDonnell

2 Department of Humanities, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland

Ali Cheshmehzangi

3 Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China

4 Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

Junaid Ahmad

5 Rufaidah Nursing College, Peshawar, Pakistan

Sabina Šegalo

6 Faculty of Health Studies, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Claudimar Pereira da Veiga

7 Marketing, Fundação Dom Cabral—FDC, Nova Lima, MG, Brazil

Associated Data

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.

Introduction

Secondhand smoke: An unintended consequence of using tobacco products

Case example: Impact of tobacco use in China

More stringent tobacco control policies and related interventions are needed

Historical timeline: Key factors that shape tobacco use in the U.S. and China.

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is fpubh-10-904971-g0001.jpg

Percent of adult smokers from each of the selected countries, 2000 and 2020. Data source: The World Health Organization; Adults: people aged 15 years and older.

A ban on the sale of tobacco products

Feasibility of establishing the ban

The broader implications and potential effects of banning tobacco products

Data availability statement

Author contributions.

ZS, DM, AC, JA, SŠ, and CV conceptualized this work, reviewed the literature, as well as drafted and edited the manuscript for intellectual content.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the editor and reviewers for their constructive input and kind feedback.

Abbreviations

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SELLING TOBACCO SHOULD BE BANNED?

Nowadays millions of people are using tobacco around us and smoking cigarettes. These are still in the market due to the absence of strong rules and regulations. Tobacco is destroying the whole world slowly. It has a very adverse impact on the environment. There would be a 5% reduction in global deforestation because approx. 500,000 acres a year get destroyed due to tobacco farming. Tobacco has been around for many years and it should be stopped but the economy cannot handle it. Tobacco reaches our children and non-smokers as well and destroys their life. Many organizations are working to convince people to stop smoking but it is really hard because people are already addicted. They accept the negative effects of tobacco and continue to smoke cigarettes. The only people winning in the tobacco field are tobacco company owners because they make all the money. If profit falls all they have to do is advertise a little harder and profit will roll. The environmental tobacco smoke the second-hand cigarette smoke breathed by non-smokers is known as a carcinogen and the most pollutant environmental pollutants many people die because of the second-hand smoke it causes many deaths like tobacco smokers to do there are many reasons for death from second-hand smoke “lung cancer is the best-known reason of second-hand smoke” the simple smoke is really very harmful then it really looks “ when a person breaths in smoke a million particles enter in our body and the main material in the cigarettes is nicotine which affects our nervous system. Nicotine is a poison that is present in tobacco leaves that defends the plant against insect attacks.

Forms of Tobacco

Cigar, little cigar, cigarillos
Dissolvable products
Electronic cigarettes
Traditional smoker’s tobacco products

Mechanism Of Tobacco

Tobacco contains nicotine and it is an amine (it is a group of a compound that contain nitrogen) nicotine acts as a receptor known as nicotine acetylcholine receptors which are present in the smoker’s muscle and throughout the brain. Nicotine helps to stimulate receptors to start a reaction that results in the further release of neurotransmitters (chemical messages that move between nerves, muscles, or glands to affect many body functions, mood, and behavior).

The nicotine receptor present in the brain is composed of 5 different units around the central nervous system. These units work in the way they respond to nicotine and affect the transfer of nicotine impulses so can each nerve produce a variety of responses to nicotine at different rates of concentration. A low dose of nicotine can stimulate the central and peripheral system resulting in other effects like increases in heart rate in an increase in a heart attack or blood pressure at high dose nicotine blocks veins, resulting in low blood pressure and changes in the body’s capacity to releases adrenaline.

How Nicotine Can Deliver Its Effect?

Smokers can combustible tobacco products that contain more than 7000 chemicals. Nicotine is a very important component of tobacco. 100 components are added to tobacco to enhance its flavor and the absorption of nicotine The cigarettes are a very efficient and highly engineered drug-delivery system. By inhaling tobacco smoke. The average smoker takes in 1-2 milligrams of nicotine per cigarette. When tobacco is smoked nicotine rapidly reaches peak levels in the bloodstream and enters the brain.

Tobacco And Its Effect On Our Body Organs

Eyes: Cataracts, Blindness excessive tearing, blinking.
Hair: Odour, Discoloration.
Ears: Hearing loss, Ear infection.
Brain and Psyche: Stroke, Addiction and withdrawal, altered brain chemistry, Anxiety about the tobaccos health effect.
Nose: Cancer of Nasal Cavity and Para nasal issues, Chronic Rhino sinusitis, impaired sense of smell.
Lungs: Bronchus, lungs, and tracheal cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, chronic bronchitis, Respiratory infection Shortness of breath, asthma, Chronic cough, excessive sputum production.
Heart: Coronary thrombosis (heart attack), Atherosclerosis (damage and occlusion of coronary vasculature).
Chest and abdomen: Esophageal cancer, Gastric, colon, and pancreatic cancer, Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Peptic ulcer (esophagus, stomach, the upper portion of the small intestine) Possible increased risk of breast cancer.
Urinary system: Bladder kidney, and Urethral cancer.
Others: Diabetes and sudden death.

Why Tobacco Should Be Banned?

Healthcare Tobacco smokes contain more than 400 chemicals in it and out of these chemicals 250 are very harmful to the body and other are carcinogen and the other form chewable form contains 28 proven carcinogen has many of 60 % of cancer cases worldwide among men and 25% of cancer in women are tobacco included. People can be mainly vulnerable to the bad effects of tobacco. So that the ban on tobacco will help to reduce health issues.
Diminish tobacco consumption The benefits of stopping tobacco are evident. This will be good for their health and their finances. Tobacco has become very expensive in many countries. Tobacco users also claim that banning tobacco may help them with quitting.
The fewer financial cost of society In the united state, more than $ 156 billion a year of productivity is lost due to death from tobacco and diseases caused by second-hand smoke. Another $ 170 billion go to direct medical costs for smokers. If tobacco vanished, so would those cost to society researchers estimate that the 1964 surgeon general’s report and the tobacco control efforts that followed it have saved approx. 8 million lives in the U.S. Tobacco causes over 7 million deaths per year and kill 1 billion this century if current trends continue. Lungs and head and neck cancers which are most common in developing countries are included by tobacco in 80 % of the cases.

How to Control Addiction to Tobacco?

Tobacco is one of the most important causes of premature deaths in the world more than 6 million people were dying because of consumption of tobacco smoking tobacco causes exposure to a mixture of more than 7000 toxic chemicals including 70 known carcinogens which can damage our body parts it is very dangerous to the pregnant lady who smokes give births to an infant at higher risk of congenital disorder like cancer, lung diseases, and sudden death. Newly-identified risk of smoking is renal failure, intestinal ischemia, and hypertensive heart diseases The risk of death is increased with the increase in the number of smoked cigarettes but like long the smokers lose at least 10-12 years of their life because of tobacco. Combustible tobacco use is extremely hazardous to human health and is responsible for more than 90 % of tobacco death and disease. The efforts by the tobacco industry to market safer–sounding alternatives such as low-tar cigarettes and water pipes so a top priority to avoid combustible tobacco products and the only way for an individual to eliminate tobacco-related harm full is not to use them.

Tobacco should be totally banned because of its severe health risks. To stop this habit, the governments are working on the different solutions the tobacco ban is a very complex issue the tobacco has been known as a killer of humans for many years it occurs diseases like cancer, HIV, and other different diseases the world is trying our best to fight these types of diseases.

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Mrs. Sarita Almeida

B.A.|| B.Ed School Principal at Rahul Education, Mother Mary’s English High School

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Essay on Selling Tobacco should be banned

This essay examines the ethical and health implications of selling tobacco products and argues that it should be banned. The essay looks at the history of tobacco, its effects on health, and the current regulations in place. It concludes that, for the benefit of society, the sale of tobacco should be stopped.

Selling tobacco should be banned because it is bad for people’s health. Smoking cigarettes can cause many health problems, such as cancer and heart disease. Tobacco smoke can also make asthma worse and cause other lung and breathing problems. It is especially dangerous for children because their bodies are still growing. Tobacco is a very addictive substance. Once someone starts smoking, it is hard for them to stop. This can lead to a lifetime of addiction and health problems. It is also expensive, so it can cause financial problems for people. Selling tobacco is also bad for the environment. Burning tobacco produces chemicals that can pollute the air. It is also the cause of forest fires in many parts of the world. For all of these reasons, selling tobacco should be banned. It is dangerous to people’s health and the environment. We should all work together to make sure that tobacco is not sold anymore.

FAQs Related To Essay on Selling Tobacco should be banned

1. what is the current law on selling tobacco in my country.

In my country, the law surrounding the sale of tobacco products is very strict. The sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited, and all sales must take place in establishments that are licenced to sell tobacco products. Furthermore, the display and promotion of tobacco products is also strictly regulated, and any advertisements must adhere to certain regulations.

2. Is it legal to sell tobacco to minors?

It is illegal to sell tobacco to minors in most states in the U.S. Selling tobacco to minors violates state laws, and those found guilty of selling tobacco to minors may be subject to hefty fines and other penalties. Furthermore, most states require retailers to check IDs of anyone purchasing tobacco products, and it is a crime to falsify or misrepresent an individual’s age in order to purchase tobacco.

3. What are the risks associated with smoking?

Smoking is a dangerous habit that has numerous health risks associated with it. The most common risks include an increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, stroke, and other respiratory illnesses. Smoking also increases the risk of developing diabetes and other chronic diseases, as well as causing premature aging.

4. What is the legal age to purchase tobacco?

The legal age to purchase tobacco varies from country to country. Generally, the legal age to purchase tobacco is 18 years old, although some countries have a higher age requirement. In the United States, the legal age to purchase tobacco is 21 years old. In other parts of the world, the legal age to purchase tobacco may be as high as 25. Additionally, some countries have banned the sale of tobacco completely. It is important to familiarize yourself with your local laws when it comes to purchasing tobacco to ensure that you remain in compliance.

5. What are the health risks of smoking tobacco?

Smoking tobacco is detrimental to one’s health. Long-term smoking of tobacco can increase the risk of developing a variety of health issues, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, emphysema, and stroke. Smoking also increases the risk of developing various types of cancer, including lung, throat, and mouth cancer. It also increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition that can make it difficult to breathe.

6. What are the consequences of selling tobacco to minors?

The consequences of selling tobacco to minors can be severe. Depending on the laws in the area, individuals caught selling tobacco to minors can face fines, imprisonment, and a permanent criminal record. There can also be civil penalties associated with selling tobacco to minors such as lawsuits. In addition, businesses may face additional consequences such as losing their license to sell tobacco or being put on probation.

7. What is the process for banning the sale of tobacco in my country?

The process for banning the sale of tobacco in a country will vary depending on the laws and regulations in the country. Generally, the process involves enacting legislation that makes it illegal to sell tobacco products, as well as to manufacture and distribute them. This legislation typically includes provisions for penalties for violations, as well as provisions for enforcement.

8. What are the benefits of banning the sale of tobacco?

Banning the sale of tobacco has many benefits. For one, it will reduce the number of people who become addicted to tobacco and the health risks associated with it. It will also reduce the amount of secondhand smoke exposure, which is dangerous to those around the smoker. In addition, it will reduce the cost of healthcare for those with diseases related to tobacco use. Finally, it will help reduce the environmental impact of tobacco production and waste. All in all, banning the sale of tobacco is a great step in the right direction for improving public health and the environment.

9. What are the potential legal implications of selling tobacco?

The potential legal implications of selling tobacco are numerous and can vary greatly, depending on the local, state, and federal laws that apply to the sale of tobacco products. Depending on the jurisdiction, sellers of tobacco products may need to obtain a license, ensure that all tobacco products are labeled and taxed appropriately, and ensure that all sales are made to customers over the age of 18 or 21, depending on the local laws.

10. What are the alternatives to smoking tobacco?

Smoking tobacco is a major health risk, so it is important to consider alternatives to the habit. Quitting smoking entirely is the best option for health, but there are other alternatives that can help those who are trying to reduce or eliminate smoking. These alternatives include switching to e-cigarettes, using nicotine gum or patches, and trying other forms of relaxation, such as yoga or meditation.

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Selling tobacco should be banned, english essay, paragraph, speech for class 9, 10, 12 in 300 words., selling tobacco should be banned.

Tobacco is a highly addictive substance that has been linked to a wide range of serious health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases. Despite the known dangers of tobacco, it is still widely available and consumed, and its sale is a lucrative business for many companies. Some people argue that the sale of tobacco should be banned in order to protect public health and reduce the negative consequences of tobacco use.

One reason why the sale of tobacco should be banned is that it is a major cause of preventable death and disease. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease globally, and it is responsible for the deaths of millions of people each year. By banning the sale of tobacco, governments could significantly reduce the health burden associated with tobacco use.

Another reason why the sale of tobacco should be banned is that it is a major contributor to economic and social costs. The medical expenses and lost productivity resulting from tobacco use place a significant burden on society, and this burden is often borne by governments and taxpayers. By banning the sale of tobacco, governments could reduce these costs and free up resources for other important priorities.

In addition, banning the sale of tobacco could also help to reduce the influence of tobacco companies, which have a long history of promoting the use of their products and downplaying the health risks associated with them. By removing the profit motive for these companies, governments could help to reduce the negative impact of tobacco on public health.

There are some potential challenges to banning the sale of tobacco, including the impact on the economies of countries that rely heavily on tobacco production and the potential for the illegal trade in tobacco to increase. However, these challenges can be addressed through measures such as providing support for affected workers and strengthening enforcement efforts to combat illegal trade.

In conclusion, the sale of tobacco should be banned in order to protect public health and reduce the negative consequences of tobacco use. While there may be challenges to implementing such a ban, the benefits to public health and society are significant and justify the efforts required to do so.

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The efforts by the tobacco industry to market safer-sounding alternatives such as low-tar cigarettes and water pipes so a top priority to avoid combustible tobacco products and the only way for an individual to eliminate tobacco-related harm full is not to use them. Conclusion. Tobacco should be totally banned because of its severe health risks.
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Essay on Selling Tobacco should be banned
The essay looks at the history of tobacco, its effects on health, and the current regulations in place. It concludes that, for the benefit of society, the sale of tobacco should be stopped. Selling tobacco should be banned because it is bad for people's health. Smoking cigarettes can cause many health problems, such as cancer and heart disease.
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PERSPECTIVE article

Introduction

Secondhand smoke: An unintended consequence of using tobacco products

Case example: Impact of tobacco use in China

More stringent tobacco control policies and related interventions are needed

A ban on the sale of tobacco products

Feasibility of establishing the ban

The broader implications and potential effects of banning tobacco products

Data availability statement

Author contributions

Acknowledgments

Conflict of interest

Publisher's note

Abbreviations

The UK’s smoking ban is government meddling at its worst and most pointless

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Associated Data

Introduction

Secondhand smoke: An unintended consequence of using tobacco products

Case example: Impact of tobacco use in China

More stringent tobacco control policies and related interventions are needed

A ban on the sale of tobacco products

Feasibility of establishing the ban

The broader implications and potential effects of banning tobacco products

Data availability statement

Conflict of interest

Publisher's note

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

SELLING TOBACCO SHOULD BE BANNED?

Forms of Tobacco

Mechanism Of Tobacco

How Nicotine Can Deliver Its Effect?

Tobacco And Its Effect On Our Body Organs

Why Tobacco Should Be Banned?

How to Control Addiction to Tobacco?

Mrs. Sarita Almeida

Essay on Selling Tobacco should be banned

FAQs Related To Essay on Selling Tobacco should be banned

2. Is it legal to sell tobacco to minors?

3. What are the risks associated with smoking?

4. What is the legal age to purchase tobacco?

5. What are the health risks of smoking tobacco?

6. What are the consequences of selling tobacco to minors?

7. What is the process for banning the sale of tobacco in my country?

8. What are the benefits of banning the sale of tobacco?

9. What are the potential legal implications of selling tobacco?

10. What are the alternatives to smoking tobacco?

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