Can Cigarettes Be Banned?
In Can Cigarettes Be Banned?, host Radzi Chinyanganya explores the debate surrounding the legality of cigarettes and smoking. This video discusses why cigarettes have not been banned despite the known health risks, and how governments use disincentives (policies that discourage certain behaviors) to regulate their use. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
Lesson Express
Q: Why aren’t cigarettes illegal despite the known health risks?
A: Student answers will vary. Students should discuss the various factors that influence the legality of cigarettes, including cultural acceptance, economic factors (such as tobacco industry jobs and tax revenue), and individual freedoms. The discussion could also address the balance between personal choice and public health.
Q: How effective are smoking bans in reducing smoking-related harm?
A: Student answers will vary. Students should analyze the extent to which smoking bans (in public spaces, restaurants, workplaces, etc.) have succeeded in reducing smoking rates. They may compare regions with strict bans to those with more lenient policies and assess the effectiveness of each approach in terms of public health outcomes.
Q: Should cigarette sales be banned entirely? Why or why not?
A: Student answers will vary. Students might discuss the potential benefits, such as reducing smoking rates and preventing health issues, versus the possible drawbacks, such as black markets, loss of revenue, and the right to personal freedom.