Unfortunately, I see two sides to this. Upsides:Decreases normalisation of smoking, which in theory could lead to less smokers. Encourages more of an 'anti-smoke' society, again, leading to less smokers. And more spoken about, less secondhand exposure. All of these would lead to less deaths. Downsides:Adults could feel paternalistic. Autonomy would be affected, even if it would objectively help. I do believe it would be worth it to stop smoking being so convenient.
this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
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Unpopular Opinion
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If you want an unpopular opinion: ban car exhaust in all public spaces. Watch people go from "second hand smoke kills!" to "are you fucking crazy?".
Oh for sure! It's a well known problem that's been subject to increasingly strict regulation (for good reason), and modern cars are a significantly less pollutant. Ending the addiction to fossil fuels would be a huge win, but also a much larger undertaking than preventing the effects of SHS.
You did exactly what he wrote. I also prefer banning cars over smoking
If were banning cars, we're definitely banning smoking too.
Why? Cars cause massive harm not even close to smoking. It is like constant second hand smoking 24/7. Not even talking about tires as major microplastic pollutants
I think you're underestimating how bad it was when everyone was smoking everywhere.
Or you never lived in city with polluted air. Headaches, memory impairment, bad sleep, cant go outside, get a fresh breathe, no sunshine touching your skin all lead to depression
It’s inevitable. US may be the last holdouts of buggy whip manufacturers but it really seems like a lot of the world is entering the steep part of the transition curve.
But most cars aren’t that bad of smell anymore. After a couple years driving an EV, it’s the noise of legacy cars that annoys me more. The thing is the most annoying car noises are probably from people who think buzzing and grinding sounds cool but have clearly never heard a true muscle car.
As an ex-smoker who hates the smell of cigarettes probably more than non-smokers ever will, I don't disagree in theory. But we shouldn't stop with just assaults to one sensory perception. In for a penny in for a pound as they say.
Loud-ass exhausts, booming subwoofers, and other assaults on the ears should also be banned in public. Strong colognes and perfumes...also banned in public.
Ugly sweaters, poor fashion choices, and shitty cars with anime girls painted on the side? You guessed it: They're assaults on the eyes and should be banned in public
Or we could just deal with the fact that other people like things we don't like.
You equate a carcinogenic cloud to an anime girl image... Buddy, that is the dumbest thing I've read in a while.
They're mostly trying to satirize the situation. Pretty sure their real opinion is, "don't get too eager to police others unless you also want to open the door to other really stupidly judgemental rules, like these."
Just ignore the smooth brains that dont think before speaking
Second hand smoke risks have been heavily overstated.
I was shocked (as a very strong anti-smoker myself).
Even smoking itself only increases cancer risk a small amount, despite all the warnings. Though other lung issues are greater - those should be the focus to get people to quit, since they're an honest high risk.
Alcohol is the same. Something like 6% of cancer deaths are attributed to alcohol. Its easy to make it look bad (and don't get me wrong it is bad). Worldwide something like 80% of liver cancers come from Hepatitis.
Recent surveys in the U.S. have showed that 5% of parents have skipped hep b vaccines and another 4% have delayed the vaccination for hepatitis B.
Those aren't directly comparable, but a person could drink every day of their life, and be 13 times less likely to die from liver cancer because a choice their guardian made.
I dunno, I think I'd rather smell cigarette smoke than look at those hornt up anime cars.
Loud-ass exhausts, booming subwoofers...
These can indeed have negative health effects and are banned in many places, the latter at least after certain hours (noise complaints!). MOT inspection fails vehicles with excessively loud exhausts and in many places you can get a "rolling inspection" from a traffic officer on the road resulting in a fine or "fix-it" ticket.
Strong colognes and perfumes…also banned in public.
Don't have negative health effects on most people, though you can be asked to leave from many health care institutions if using too strong scents. Not really comparable to smoking but the argument could certainly be made.
Ugly sweaters, poor fashion choices, and shitty cars with anime girls painted on the side?
Only causes death by second-hand embarrassment. Maybe not excessively scantily clad anime girls at a... kindergarten? but apart from that only emotions will be hurt.
0 evidence for your bullshit. Perfume makes me feel sick. Call centerd ban perfumes for tbis reason. It is VERY comparable smoking. When I can smell peoples perfume as they drive past me, that is FAR worse than smoke.
Don't have negative health effects on most people, though you can be asked to leave from many health care institutions if using too strong scents. Not really comparable to smoking but the argument could certainly be made.
I had a coworker once that I swear to god used to bathe in perfume. You could smell her 2 minutes before she crossed your path and 5 minutes afterwards.
Had someone similar at my office, I had to ask her to stop at least spraying herself on the row because it was giving me and another headaches.
She did oblige to her credit
Smoking causes negative health effects for everyone - this is not the case for perfumes. As I said, the argument could certainly be made to ban strong perfumes, but it isn't the one I'm making. I definitely reject the case that Adm. Patrick made that public smoking should be allowed because strong perfumes are allowed.
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And smoking is already banned in buildings, within 15 feet of an entrance of buildings, on buses, in parks, etc.
Nobody hates the smell of cigarettes like true ex smokers. It simultaniously turns our stomachs and reminds us we will never ever feel truly relaxed or happy ever again.
Smells like rancid cat piss to me now, but man did I love my American Spirits.
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Yes, end with "protect the children!".
I've heard that smoking anything is actually just fentanyl and socialism combined into terrorism.
A small minority of some smokers are the only ones who find that unpopular. It smells like shit and makes me cough immediately. I’m an ex smoker too and can say I’m an asshole for ever subjecting others to cig smoke
That's not an unpopular opinion, that's just common sense.
I was a smoker for years and what made me quit was when I really grasped how much it makes you reek.
I have staff who take smoke breaks and god lord you can smell that nasty shit the moment they walk back on the floor.
it isn’t practical to ban smoking in public places but all Campus work sites should have designated smoking areas.
I smoked for probably 20 years and I completely agree. Yall smokers stink! You can still smoke in bars in my state and you can smell that stank from the parking lot.
I don't think this is that unpopular, other than with smokers/ vapers. In the UK smoking is already banned everywhere indoors at least.
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I think it pretty much is?
Unless this is one of those "America is Default" posts 💁♂️
I think they mean outdoor places, too. I don't recall that being common. I assume they'd also be against designated smoking areas, since that doesn't fix all secondhand smoke to leave them around.
Strange comment. I don’t know of a single country that outright bans smoking in all public spaces. America or otherwise.
It pretty much is in the US in public spaces.
Only indoors or near entrances to indoors.
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