Smoking ban has its hazardous effects
“Like most things in life, when the smoking ban comes in force in England on 1 July, it will have unintended consequences,” BBC News reported.
Although the smoking ban was intentionally good, it has its consequences that may affect mostly children. Concerns was raised up about the effects of passive smoking to children.
If you can’t smoke at the pub and you don’t want a fag standing outside, where are you going to light up? At home? The jury is still out as to whether the ban will result in children being expose to more passive smoking at home, but one study of the US suggests it could be the case.
Economists at University College London studied the direct effect on passive smoking from different kinds of bans. They concluded parents smoke more at home if they can’t in bars or restaurants. Other bans, such as those on trains, shopping areas, or workplaces, do not appear to result in children being exposed to more harmful fumes at home.
The smoking ban can also increase global warming.
Keeping the chill off smokers is high up the list of priorities, putting outdoor heaters on the shopping list. The introduction of the smoking ban in England is expected to trigger a huge increase in demand for heat umbrellas, potentially creating a new environmental burden.
Using a gas-fired heater for just one hour can waste enough energy to make 400 cups of tea, according to Friends of the Earth. Increased demand due to the smoking ban has prompted concern about exacerbating global warming. The Lib Dem environment spokesman, Norman Baker, has urged the government to act over the “wasteful practice” of patio heaters ahead of the ban.
Environmental groups say the heaters are energy-hungry and their advice is simple – if it’s cold outside, wear a coat. But manufacturers say figures for how much carbon heaters emit are often inaccurate and misleading. Based on government statistics, they say the current number of heaters are responsible for 0.002% of all UK carbon emissions.
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