Question

As of 2017, the majority of states have enacted smoking bans in public places such as workplaces, restaurants, and bars. What is the economic rationale behind these bans in public places? Would a similar rationale exist for banning smoking in private settings such as cars, apartment buildings, and private homes?

Answer 1

Smoking is primarily banned because it is a bad good or a good that is not good for the consumer . It is not good for consumer for several reasons such as smoking related diseases , addiction etc . But the economic rationale behind ban of smoking in public places is to curb negative externality generated from smoking . In public areas smoking can cause several externalities such as sudden accidents , effect on non-smokers due to passive smoking , rise in air pollution etc . So banning smoking in public places is in first place a safety measure . Secondly , people are often forced to spend some amount of time in such public places like workplace or a bank , ban of smoking will forcefully reduce consumptions by smokers which in long run might also help to reduce addiction and hence demand for cigarettes .

No , banning of smoking in private settings is quite difficult and reasons above do not imply there . In private settins such as homes and cars people cause less negative externality and monitoring of smokers is difficult .