1) Identify the target population, 2) cite advantages and disadvantages (if any), and 3) do you see it being followed/implemented in your locality?
Smoking or the usage of tobacco is known to be the one of the main causes of preventable death in which it causes around 7 million deaths per year across the globe (CDC, 2020). Establishing and implementing cigarette-smoke free zones will be a great help to the public most especially those people living in that particular place or community.
One of the main advantages of having a cigarette-smoke free zones is the prevention of second hand smoking most especially to the nonsmokers. Second hand smoking causes massive negative effects to the health of the people most especially to the children (NHS UK, nd). In addition, cigarette-smoke free zones reduces people admitted to the hospitals because of smoking related diseases thus improving the health status of the public. Lastly, it was found that having cigarette-smoke free zones increases the possibility of smokers to quit smoking (CDC, 2021).
In my hometown in Lagawe, Ifugao it is not strictly implemented even though there are ordinances prohibiting the smoking of cigarette in public places. I always see people smoking freely in public places like the public market, public plaza, grocery stores and other public places. On the other hand, public smoking in Baguio City is strictly observed and implemented. During my stay there for my 2 years in Senior High School, I was amazed how the Baguio City Government work hand in hand to properly implement it. I always see police officers spotting people who smoke and giving them warnings or fine most especially in the tourist spots of Baguio like the famous Session Road, Burnham Park, Cathedral Church, and many more. I hope that cigarette-smoke free zones will be implemented and observed across the Philippines.
References:
CDC. (2020). Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm
CDC. (2021). Smokefree Policies Improve Health. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/protection/improve_health/index.htm
NHS UK. (nd). Passive Smoking. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/passive-smoking-protect-your-family-and-friends/