SPECIAL SMOKING AREA IN THE  MIDDLE OF THE COMMUNITY                        

  Sumber : freepik.com

Smoking areas are special rooms provided for smoking in public places, especially in smoke-free areas. The habit of smoking has spread to almost all groups of people in Indonesia, and this causes various health problems, both for smokers themselves and those around them. The many negative impacts caused by cigarette smoke require special smoking areas in public places. Without a smoking area, the negative impacts that can arise include various aspects, such as health, comfort, and legal compliance.

Without a special smoking area, smokers tend to smoke in the same area as non-smokers. This causes passive exposure to cigarette smoke for those who do not smoke. Cigarette smoke contains various harmful substances, including carcinogens, which can increase health risks, such as respiratory diseases. Cigarette smoke can worsen conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Long-term exposure to cigarette smoke can also increase the risk of lung cancer and other cancers. In addition, cigarette smoke can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Without a separate smoking area, air quality in public areas can decrease due to air pollution from cigarette smoke. This can reduce comfort for everyone in the area and cause an unpleasant odor. Cigarette smoke leaves an odor that is difficult to remove, affecting the comfort and cleanliness of the environment.

If there is no designated smoking area, smokers will feel pressured or uncomfortable because they have to find a suitable place to smoke. This can result in disruption of activities, where smokers have to go outside or to uncomfortable places to smoke, which can disrupt their activities and reduce productivity. In addition, social stigma can arise; smokers may feel excluded or unwelcome in certain social environments, which worsens their social experience.

Without a clear smoking area, conflicts can occur between smokers and non-smokers. This can create tension and discomfort in the environment. Non-smokers will feel disturbed by cigarette smoke, while smokers feel isolated or misunderstood.

In some countries and regions, regulations prohibit smoking in public areas without a designated smoking area. Without this designated area, such places can violate the law and be subject to fines or administrative sanctions for not complying with regulations on smoking areas.

Therefore, the existence of smoking areas in public places is very important to overcome the various negative impacts that arise from smoking in undesignated areas. Without a dedicated space, exposure to cigarette smoke can harm the health of non-smokers, reduce air quality and environmental comfort, and disturb smokers who have to find uncomfortable smoking places. In addition, the absence of a smoking room can trigger social conflicts between smokers and non-smokers and violate existing regulations and potentially incur fines and damage the reputation of the place. Therefore, providing a suitable and separate smoking room is an effective step to reduce these negative impacts and create a healthier and more comfortable environment for all parties.