IELTS Writing Task 2 Cigarette Smoking

Smoking is a major cause of serious illness and death throughout the world today. In the interest of the public health, governments should ban cigarettes and other tobacco products. Do you agree or disagree?

Tobacco has existed for a long time in the world history yet people have always discussed whether it should be banned or not. Some claim that it provides almost nothing but only harmful substances that slowly destroy human health and call for a tobacco prohibition from the government. However I would argue that there is no need to introduce such law in the present. There are two primary reasons for this.

First of all, I believe that when the government make it illegal to use tobacco product and labels it as a type of drug it would only trigger the market and make the situation worse. For example, banning heroine does not stop people from using it but new ways are found in order to outwit the law and selling them in secret. Consequently, it is not easier to wipe out all the illegal drugs but instead the government accidentally help the black market receive a huge sum from illegal drugs selling. This would only make more mess than really solve the actual problem and government should try to reduce smoking by other methods. Educating about the harmful impact of cigarette would help people aware about its potential risk.

Besides, because of the pressure of modern life a lot of people are using cigarette as a means to reduce stress. If it is to be banned from daily using, there is no doubt many will find to a more dangerous drug. Cigarette is easier to control than other type of drugs as there are already law to prevent smoking in public and if someone find the need to smoke, many buildings has a special room for smokers only. That way they cannot disturb and threaten other's healthiness with their own hobby. Hence, government can make it difficult to smoke through raising tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Generally, I believe that cigarettes are harmful and people should reduce using them when totally understanding how lethal they are. However, given the many problems that cigarettes prohibition may cause, I conclude it is better to try other cleverer method to achieve the final goal.