Recently, the UK Health Secretary Khairy Jamaluddin proposed the concept of generational end – banning those born after 2007 from using, owning, or selling cigarettes and e-cigarette products. On August 19th, a special committee of the parliament met for the first time to discuss in detail the tobacco control and smoking bill. Dr. Helmy Haja Mydin, a technical advisor for tobacco control at the Ministry of Health, and Dr. Ginsky Chan, a master's student in public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, analyzed the four negative impacts of smoking.
The first negative effect of smoking is on the health of others. A research paper published by the Malaysian Medical Research Institute in 2020 revealed that one-fourth of children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their parents' car. People who do not want their children to inhale secondhand smoke can choose to smoke alone in their car or home. What they may not know is that current evidence suggests tobacco smoke pollutants can linger in indoor dust and surfaces for up to six months, leading to "thirdhand smoke.
Children who habitually put their hands in their mouths or touch their faces after coming into contact with contaminated surfaces run the risk of ingesting or inhaling carcinogens. Additionally, children may be affected even before birth - pregnant women who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke increase the risk of their babies experiencing lung weakness, heart defects, and low birth weight.
The second negative consequence of smoking is the burden it places on healthcare. Smoking affects almost every part of the body. In Malaysia, in the year 2020, a total of RM6.2 billion (equivalent to approximately 1.38 billion US dollars) was spent on treating three diseases linked to smoking: lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
At first glance, Malaysia's healthcare system appears to be primarily funded by the government, but a significant portion of the funding comes from taxation. With a smoking rate of 21.3%, this means that for every smoker who suffers the consequences of their habit, four non-smoking citizens are paying for their healthcare. Additionally, using a bed to treat a smoking-related illness means one less bed is available to treat patients with preventable diseases.
The third negative impact of smoking is a loss of productivity. Many workplaces allow smoking breaks, however, just 15 minutes a day adds up to 6 hours of inefficiency per month. To compensate, a Japanese company called Piala Inc. provides non-smoking employees with an additional six days of vacation time per year.
Long-term coughing and breathing difficulties among chronic smokers can also affect work performance. A 2021 study by Malaysia's Science University reported that COPD results in a 32% loss in productivity and a 17% restriction on activities. In addition, caregivers of family members with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reported a 7.2% loss in productivity and a 21.6% limitation on social activities. Furthermore, those with more severe COPD or other comorbidities such as heart disease and lung cancer may have to opt for early retirement.
Lastly, but certainly not least, smoking has negative ripple effects on the environment. From cultivation and manufacturing to distribution, tobacco and its products have adverse impacts on our planet. According to a report by the World Health Organization in May 2022 titled "Tobacco: Poisoning our Planet," 5% of deforestation is caused by tobacco farming, 220 billion tons of water is used in tobacco production, 2 million tons of waste comes from packaging, and 4.5 trillion cigarette butts pollute the environment globally each year.
Non-cigarette products such as smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes are also contributing to global plastic pollution and battery waste. The cost of cleaning up littered tobacco products is borne by taxpayers, most of whom do not smoke.
We have described the four negative consequences of smoking, intentionally disregarding the harmful effects on the smoker themselves because some individuals believe smoking is a personal choice, despite addiction affecting free will.
We advocate for the appropriate implementation of intergenerational cessation programs, which means not allowing individuals born after 2007 to purchase cigarettes in any form.
This progressive and radical legislation will not only protect our future generations, but also stifle the violation of the rights of others' health, healthcare services, economic productivity, and a healthier planet caused by smoking behavior.
In the words of John Stuart Mill on the harm principle, "The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.
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