Smokefree laws and policies, such as the establishment of smokefree zones, primarily aim to protect the general population who do not smoke from secondhand smoke; however, these laws and policies have also been found to motivate and help users quit and even prevent initiation of tobacco use (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021b).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021a), studies have shown that the implementation of smokefree laws and policies that prohibit smoking in public places help improve the health of the public, and this was evidenced by the reduction in hospital admissions for diseases associated with smoking. Moreover, it was also shown that smokefree laws and policies help smokers quit and reduce tobacco use and make youth and young adults less likely to start smoking.
Although the tobacco industry has claimed multiple times that banning smoking in particular areas would lead to a great decline in sales, of the studies that used objective indicators and controlled appropriately for underlying economic trends, none concluded that such action will have a negative economic impact (Tobacco in Australia, 2022).
Despite smokefree zones being established in the locality, there is a lack of strict enforcement by law enforcers and concerned government agencies which allows other people to freely violate anti-smoking regulations.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021a, November 30). Smokefree Policies Improve Health. Retrieved September 4, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/protection/improve_health/index.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021b, November 30). Smokefree Policies Reduce Smoking. Retrieved September 4, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/protection/reduce_smoking/index.htm#:%7E:text=The%20primary%20purpose%20of%20smokefree,not%20smoke%20from%20secondhand%20smoke.&text=However%2C%20smokefree%20laws%20can%20also,prevent%20initiation%20of%20tobacco%20use.
Tobacco in Australia. (2022, April). 15.3 Opposition to and weakening of smokefree environment legislation. Tobacco in Australia | Facts & Issues. Retrieved September 4, 2022, from https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-15-smokefree-environment/15-3-opposition-to-and-weakening-of-smokefree-envi