The Cons of Smoking Areas at School
Smokers need a place to smoke, and a smoking area traditionally serves to provide them with such a place. Smoking area placement is often determined by state or city law, but traditionally requires that smokers be a certain distance from entrances or exits and dispose of their butts properly. Whether or not to have a smoking area on campus is a hotly debated issue, with a few disadvantages rising to the surface.
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Secondhand Smoke
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Secondhand smoke refers to pollution generated by smokers that is then inhaled by other, nonsmoking individuals. Because so many smokers are crowded into one small area, the secondhand smoke concentration can be quite high in that specific zone. This creates a health hazard for any nonsmoking person who has to pass by that area to get from one class to another. Secondhand smoke has been linked to a number of health problems, including throat and lung cancer.
Encouraging Underage Smoking
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If you are considering adding a smoking area to your high school campus, the possibility of that area being exploited by underage smokers must be addressed. Though many of your senior-year students will be old enough to smoke legally, there is always a chance that cigarettes, if allowed on campus, will find their way into the hands of a minor. Smoking areas on high school campuses will need a detailed strategy for avoiding this problem.
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Health Risks to Smokers
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There are a wide range of health problems caused by smoking. Lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema and other medical problems can often be traced back to smoking habits. When you provide a designated smoking area on your school campus, you are effectively encouraging the habits of these smokers. If smoking were not allowed on campus, it makes sense that smokers would smoke fewer cigarettes throughout the day. Encouraging smokers to smoke is one side-effect of a smoking area.
Legal Ramifications and Expense
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Adding a designated smoking area is likely an expensive proposition for your campus. In addition to the hard cost of benches, tables and environmentally safe ashtrays, you can expect to spend a fair chunk of change on maintaining and cleaning the smoking area. Many smokers will not dispose of butts properly, and someone else will end up cleaning them up. Additionally, positioning a smoking area can be a tricky proposition when you attempt to balance your city and state's regulations. You may need the aid of a building professional or attorney to make an informed decision.
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