Kenya has enacted a tough new smoking rule, which bans smoking on the street and in parks, markets, bars, private homes, and private cars. That’s right: If you’re not lighting up in one of the country’s designated smoking zones, you’re not smoking at all—unless you want to risk imprisonment (up to three years) or a fine of up to $43,000, according to the BBC.
Being an ex-smoker, I tend to give the nicotine-addicted more sympathy than scorn and rarely complain about secondhand fumes. But even I thought, Hmm, wouldn’t that be nice?
You see, every morning I have a 15-minute walk through the streets of New York to get to work. I stride elbow-to-elbow with a crowd muscling its way to various places of employment, a veritable river of humanity that diverts itself only for islands of slow-moving tourists, major potholes, aggressive cabbies, and, well, smokers.
If you end up directly behind a smoker, you can be treated to a stomach-churning, prebreakfast smoke bath for blocks before escaping. There’s a reason smokers are trying to sneak one in between the morning commute and the office: New York City, like much of the rest of the planet, has put the pressure on smokers to kick the habit.
Higher cigarette taxes, a 2003 ban on smoking in the workplace and indoor spaces, and a hard-hitting ad campaign are just a few of the city’s recent measures to cut down on smoking and secondhand smoke. It does seem like the city’s campaign (and others like it) are working, but perhaps not enough.
Just last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 46% of nonsmoking Americans are still exposed to secondhand smoke (down from 84% in the late 1980s and early 1990s), according to an analysis of 1999–2004 data. Exposure to secondhand smoke at home dropped too, from 21% to 10%. However, certain groups are at greater risk than others: children, those with low incomes, and non-Hispanic blacks.
About 24% of children under 12 were exposed to smoke at home, compared with about 6% of adults. Although Kenya’s new rules seem draconian, the stricter approach will probably help those who tend to be exposed to secondhand smoke at home (or in private cars).
It’s unlikely that U.S. cities could pass or enforce such a ban. And really, I think people should do what they like within the privacy of their own homes.
But I do remember a time when it was shocking to contemplate smoke-free bars in New York City, or (gasp!) cities like Dublin or Paris. Now it’s shocking to stumble upon restaurants and bars in states (such as Pennsylvania) that allow smokers to puff away. Maybe smoke-free NYC streets aren’t a total pipe dream.
(PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES)
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Comments (4)
Believe me, I wish I had never seen a cigarette, but you don”t have that much exposure on the street, for crying out loud. If you’re too close make room, grab a cup of coffee, pick your nose for 30 seconds, whatever. Yes, you shouldn’t have to, but
I think that is crazy.You should be able to smoke a cigarette on the streets if you want. I think that if you don’t like it MOVE. I can see not smoking in a store or eatery,but your own house give me a break!
I think it’s a great idea, I guess it’s easy for me to say seeing as I never was addicted and have no desire to start. I cannot stand when people smoke around me and I am so glad they banned it in all the area bars and clubs I usually go to. If you want to smoke, that’s your problem, don’t bring it around me.
There are many reasons why a woman starts to smoke cigarettes and it is society what has made it really common for us to see woman smoking everywhere, but there are benefits of smoking, and Women smoking cigarettes look better to the eyes of some men