Resolved: The USFG should ban smoking in restaurants and bars nationwide

I must decline Con's request for a change of the resolution. It is too late to change the resolution, because DDO does not allow me to change the resolution after the challenge has already been accepted. I will be advocating for a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars, because a universal ban would be extratopical. In this debate we will be evaluating the hypothetical effects of a nationwide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants through the lens of net benefits. If I can prove that the benefits of a smoking ban in restaurants and bars nationwide outweigh the costs, I will win this debate. If Con proves that the costs are greater than the benefits, he will win. Contention 1: Secondhand Smoke Is Dangerous There is overwhelming scientific evidence that secondhand smoke is harmful. According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke causes cancer, heart attack, stroke, asthma, depression, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is particularly harmful to children, who are more likely to be exposed to it if people smoke in restaurants. Cigarette smoke releases 7,000 toxic chemicals, 70 of which are known to cause cancer. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke. The only way to avoid its harmful effects is to completely avoid exposure. Secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces such as bars and restaurants. http://www.cancer.org... According to the National Cancer Institute, secondhand smoke kills 46,000 Americans each year. According to the Mayo Clinic, secondhand smoke affects a non-smoker's blood vessels in as little as five minutes, causing changes that increase the risk of heart attack. Contention 2: Smoking Bans Are Effective An analysis of 33 different smoking bans showed that they caused a 15% reduction in heart attack, a 16% reduction in strokes, and a 24% reduction in hospitalizations for respiratory disease. Local smoking bans also save millions of dollars in health care costs, an amount that would be much greater if it was imposed nationwide. In addition to protecting people from secondhand smoke, smoking bans discourage people from smoking, as there are many smokers who think of quitting but have trouble doing so. Being unable to smoke in certain areas will provide more motivation for smokers to quit, and in a world where millions die every year due to tobacco, anything that reduces tobacco-related death is a good thing. http://www.usatoday.com... A study conducted by the Mayo Clinic concluded that a smoking ban in restaurants in Olmstead County, Minnesota caused a 17% drop in sudden cardiac deaths. Since the Mayo Clinic provides health care for most of the people in that county, and it is one of the most reputable medical organizations in the world, this provides conclusive proof that smoking bans save lives. http://healthland.time.com... Contention 3: Federal Action is Best In the status quo smoking bans are determined on a state level, but this is not good enough. 16 states with 22.5% of the American population allow smoking in restaurants, and 20 states with 34.5% of the population allow it in bars. Most states that allow smoking bans in restaurants have conservative political views, and because this is a partisan issue it is likely that these states will continue to allow smoking in restaurants. Only a federal ban will ensure that everyone will be protected from secondhand smoke when they go out to eat. Another advantage of federal regulation is that it creates a uniform and consistent code for businesses. If national restaurant chains know that there is a single regulation about smoking in restaurants in the United States, they will have an easier time complying with it than a patchwork of different state laws, reducing compliance costs. The United States is currently the world's only superpower, so it has unparalleled influence over other countries. For this reason, if the US passes a federal ban on smoking in restaurants and bars, other countries will be encouraged to do the same. This will save many lives on an international scale. To conclude, the United States Federal Government should ban smoking in all restaurants and bars to save thousands of lives and millions of dollars in medical costs both here and abroad.