The Russian Smoking Ban Impedes Personal Liberty

It was recently announced that Russia’s health ministry is considering banning smoking for anyone born in 2015 or later as part of an aim to counter the 22 billion dollar tobacco industry funded by approximately 40 percent of Russia. Even before the proposition, several steps were taken there in order to eliminate smoking. In 2014, smoking was banned at workplaces, housing block stairwells, buses, trains, and various other public places. Minimum prices were also set for cigarettes. These new laws made smoking merely inconvenient, but application of the ban will prevent future generations of Russians from even touching a cigarette. Though this proposition has been praised, and though it may lead to a smoke free Russia someday, there are still negative aspects and loose ends to this “solution.”

To begin, where is the line between personal liberty and public welfare? The government should not be able to tell adults what to do under the pretense of public good. Adults are perfectly capable of making their own decisions, and the repercussions are their fault. Current toddlers born in 2015 shouldn’t have access to cigarettes right now, but they should have the freedom to make their own choices once they’ve had 18 years of education on the harmful effects of smoking. It is just a matter of personal responsibility.  Russia has already done a good job of banning and discouraging smoking in public places, but the ultimate decision of whether or not to smoke should be up to Russian adult citizens.

Though the ban was created with the positive intention of boosting public health and welfare, the health ministry fails to recognize other causes of sickness in Russia while. For example, 25 percent of men die before age 55 because of vodka consumption. Causes include liver disease and alcohol poisoning. Alcoholics inflict harm on others as well, such as accidents while driving under influence and physical fighting. Therefore, the effect of alcohol on the general population is more severe than second hand smoke. Furthermore, there was recently a case where over 60 people died after drinking cheap alcohol. So the question is, why hasn’t a ban been proposed on alcohol? Is it because it falls behind the line between personal choice and public good? The Russian health ministry seems ready to trust the people’s judgement on this one—but not on smoking.

Obesity is also a  rising problem in Russia. Gradual yet detrimental, obesity is a threat to not only public health, but to the economy as well. Nearly 50 percent of diabetes cases, a fifth of cancer cases, and 7-40 percent heart disease cases are directly linked to obesity.  The strain placed on the economy is severe, expenses for curing these illnesses being 360 billion roubles, about 6 billion dollars. The rising percentages of obesity and disease can be attributed to poor attention to diet and the abundance of fast food chains. Restaurants such as McDonald's are as popular there as anywhere else. Children are also more susceptible to acquiring unhealthy eating habits because they eat what the adults around them do. Adults are more likely to give their child a Big Mac than a cigarette. Basically, if the ban is implemented current toddlers would be prevented from smoking (which they wouldn’t try anyway at such a young age) but would be allowed to begin a lifetime of unhealthy eating. With these daunting statistics, why do people still eat fast food? Well, people consume unhealthy food because they choose to. They choose to put their health at risk. This same concept of choice can easily be applied to smoking.

I would like to remind everyone that a ban on smoking wouldn’t mean that smoking would be completely eliminated. Once the toddlers born in 2015 grow up, cigarettes would gain the status of an illegal drug, like a forbidden fruit.  Their value would increase as well as the want for them. Take our home away from home as an example. The heroin epidemic in New Hampshire has been described as an “apocalypse,” taking lives and tearing families apart. New Hampshire has the third highest drug deaths per capita in the nation, even though heroin usage is completely illegal. Russia could easily face a similar situation if they ban smoking. Just to clarify, heroin is rightfully illegal--the destructive effects of heroin overdose drastically outweigh the consequences of smoking.

Yes, the proposed ban on smoking does come with good intentions, but it casts away the concept of free choice. Adults have several personal responsibilities, their health being one of the most important. Nevertheless, it would be beneficial for Russia to continue focusing on their youth. They should establish programs in schools to educate kids about smoking as well as other pressing problems. When these kids become adults, the decision should ultimately be theirs to make. Because, when it comes to limiting personal liberties, where do you draw the line?