Tobacco Wars and Prohibited Behaviors, Essay Example

According to Lawrence O. Gostin prohibition of behavior has a dual purpose in public health as well as the social system. It protects the public along with individuals engaging in the destructive behavior. For example, since it was discovered that tobacco causes lung cancer and is one of the leading causes of death polices have been designed to control the spread of lung cancer and limit the use of tobacco. Significantly, this has been termed tobacco wars from the perspective of manufacturers’ losing business and person addicted to tobacco given a change to quit. Besides, the tradeoff Lawrence emphasizes could be explained in the second hand smoke danger of tobacco consumption in public places. While the public is protected the individual’s behavior is prohibited. The tendency is for less packs of cigarettes to be smoked per day (Gostin, 204).

Further Gostin advances that prohibition of behavior laws transcend tobacco consumption into other destructive habits inculcated by members of the society. For example, there are escalating health issues related to juvenile diabetes and hypertension all related to obesity and inappropriate diets. While people have the right to choose, in order to protect the human race, public health authorities have a mandate to engage in polices that restrict the excessive use of alcohol, and later, perhaps, soda, which is another significant source of health danger among all ages. Studies confirm the dangers of excessive use of alcohol on reasoning and the causes of fatal accidents. True, persons do not have to comply with any law, but penalties are enforced. However, public health law also enforces education people are exposed to the opportunities for reform (Gostin, 204).