Shocked by the fact that nearly half of the country's 1.3 billion population are suffering from passive smoking, a Chinese lawmaker has called for national legislation to ban smoking in public places. Given the harmful effects of smoking, I hold that smoking should be banned in all public places.

Firstly, smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease, says the World HealthOrganization. Tobacco smoking is a known or probable cause of approximately 25 diseases. Besides, second-hand smoke puts people's health at risk too. According to a survey, nearly 600 million Chinese suffer from passive smoking, which occurs in 32.5 per cent of public spaces, People visiting smoky public places two or three times a week and those working in the hospitality industry are at high risk of smoking-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and amputated limbs arising from vein clogging, Therefore, except forincreasing their own risk of smoking-related diseases, smokers also pose a danger to non-smokers' health due to second-hand smoke. It is a non-smoker's right not to have to breathe in smoke in public places. There is nothing worse than someone smoking at the table next to you while you're trying to enjoy your meal. The government should get tough on smoking so as to protect nonsmokers' rights to a healthy life.

In summary, it is imperative to create a non-smoking social environment and enhance the self-protection awareness of non-smokers. Smoking in public areas should be banned.