One of the most controversial topics in the city of Calgary is the smoke-free bylaw that took place on January the 1st , 2007. The new law bans smoking at public places with just few exceptions. Those who are excluded from the implementation of the law are some casino and bingo halls; still they have been given one year exception. In the end, according to the new regulation, no one would be able to smoke in public places from 2008 and on. Nowadays, bars and restaurants have small designated smoking areas. In addition, one can appreciate how people are smoking outside buildings. I can have a cigarette outside the Education Tower at the University. However, we do not know what would be the future. Apparently the trend is that you will not allow smoking in any public place. Perhaps the only place where you will be able to do it will be in your backyard, if you have a house, or in your apartment’s balcony. And I wonder how bad the decision made by the city council is. Let’s faced it, of course those who do not smoke might be completely agreed with the decision. But for those who smoke, like my case, what are the consequences of it. Well, definitively this is a good topic for a debate, so what I am going to present is a good fact to be considered. From the business perspective, to go smoke free is because of the costs associated with smoking. Imagine this, there is a study from the year 1997 showing that each smoking employee costs an employer up to $ 2565 (http://www.smokefreecalgary.com/). These costs are related to: an increase in absenteeism, a decrease in productivity, a decrease in life insurance premium, and the costs of building specific smoking areas. So I do not know you, but if I were the owner of a company, I will definitively take advantage of a law preventing employees from smoking. In conclusion, besides the healthy reasons attached to a non smoking policy, there are other points of view good to be awarded of while having under consideration the new banning law.
4 comments:
I really hope to have smoke free city in any part in the world. It is intersting to know that non of the environmentalists have mentioned the eefects of cigarittes on global warming and the ozone layer. Just imagine the amount of blowed smoked from cigarittes!!!
Have you heard that at the Calgary Air Port, people aren't even allowed to smoke outside anymore? Now they have to smoke in "designated smoking areas". As an ex-smoker, I think it's great!
It is funny that visitors of your blog are very few. Similar to you, I also have a few visitor in my blog. By the way, I have to tell you that it is time for us to say goodby. Goodby, my friend
I still agree with the city decision. I usually do not allow anybody to smoke beside me (this doesn't necessarily mean I do not like the person). Also, smoking is not a good thing for smokers as well as non-smokers.
Post a Comment