Smoking can damage the environment and litter our surroundings. Firstly, cigarette stubs are being dropped everywhere and take a long time to disintegrate because they contain plastic fibres. According to researchers, it takes 1 year for some types, 12 for other types but that some stubs never decompose. These stubs which don’t decompose might be eaten by innocent ground animals who will later die of their unlucky findings. Secondly, disregarded stubs, which were thrown away without being put out can cause severe fires such as forest fires. This would destroy the forest very fast and kill thousands of animals on the way. Thirdly, to make cigarettes, cigarette-makers have to cure the tobacco then let it age for a better flavour. This is to remove any unpleasant smells that uncured tobacco has. But to cure the tobacco, cigarette-makers have to do a lot of burn wood. For example, to cure the tobacco that a smoker consumes in 2 weeks, it takes the wood from one tree. If you want to protect our environment and make the world a better place, quit smoking or at least use your ashtrays.
Smoking is also a waste of money, which you could be spending on other much more useful things. Firstly, cigarettes are not cheap and smokers who smoke a few packets per day are wasting a lot of money. For example, a 1994 report estimated that the use of tobacco resulted in an annual global net loss of US$ 200 thousand million, a third of this loss being in developing countries. Secondly, smokers who have become poor from their habit continue smoking and therefore do not spend their little money on life essentials such as food, health care and education. For instance, many studies have shown that in the poorest households in some low-income countries as much as 10% of total household expenditure is on tobacco. Thirdly, if huge amounts of smokers fall sick at the same time and the hospitals fill up, the city will have to build more hospitals, possibly provoking a tax raise to the whole population including non-smokers. Money is also a big issue as to why people should not smoke.
Your appearance as a smoker can provoke thoughts in other people’s minds in various different ways. Firstly, as soon as you light a cigarette, people notice you and the smoke coming out of your cigarette. Some may frown at you for setting a bad example or simply because they know that what you are doing is not good for them or for you. Secondly, your smoking can influence and encourage non-smokers and teenagers to smoke. For instance, in the UK, about 450 children start smoking everyday. Thirdly, you will get black teeth, bad breath and yellow fingers from tobacco. Everyone knows that those ugly yellow stains will not wash off; no matter how hard you try. When you smoke, your appearance changes. The new people you meet will have a different and not necessarily good impression of you.
It is clear that there are many convincing reasons why people should not smoke. Health concerns, environmental problems, financial issues and appearance worries all support this view. There is no doubt that people like you and me should not smoke.
Bibliography
"ASH Fact Sheets." Action on Smoking and Health.
"The Economics of Smoking." Kids Against Tobacco Smoke. <://www.roycastle.org/kats/facts_eco.htm>.
"What is a Smoking Addiction?" EHealth MD. Oct. 2004. <http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/smoking/SMO_whatis.html>.
"Curing Tobacco Leaves." Plantation House. <http://www.coffinails.com/curing_tobacco.html>.
"What Smoking Does to Your Body." LifeBytes. <http://www.lifebytes.gov.uk/smoking/smo_body.html>.
