Smoking is a bad habit. It is dangerous to health as it can cause serious illnesses. Yet people continue to smoke heavily regardless of the proven cases of disease or the strict warnings on cigarette packets put there by governments to deter smoking. The worst type of smokers are those who insist on smoking in elevators, cars, queues at airport passport counters, crowded areas and in places clearly marked No Smoking. Even worse than these are the smokers who sit next to you in the plane and when you tell them you are allergic to smoke, they suggest that you change your seat! You say that you are in a no smoking zone and he responds, “Is this plane your father’s property?”
It is impossible to ban smoking completely. If governments decided to add smoking to the list of forbidden substances such as hashish and cocaine, people would resort to trafficking and other illegal methods which would guarantee that smoking would thrive. It is, however, possible to ban smoking in schools, government offices, airports and playgrounds. Hospitals should serve as an example here with smoking strictly banned anywhere on their premises.
What is happening in our hospitals, I am sorry to say, is something different. A few days ago we went to visit a patient and the moment we entered the hospital we were met with the smell of cigarette smoke everywhere. It was as if a bomb had just exploded inside the building or a fire had broken out in a nearby cigarette warehouse, engulfing the hospital in heavy smoke. When we mentioned this to the first official we met, the man began complaining about the shortcomings and the absence of awareness among patients, visitors and the general public.
In the United States the adverse effects of smoking have been controlled by strictly enforcing the law in public places where smoking is banned. In the past there were restaurants which hung out signs saying, ‘Jews and Dogs not allowed.’ Perhaps today they should add smokers to the list.