Smoking tobacco should be illegalised completely.

Thank you very much! I would like to place my own opinion on the summary of the argument so far. FOR: 1) Smoking tobacco is harmful for the smokers and those around them. Counter: Can be applied to any activity, eg. binge eating, which is preposterous. Agreed: However, it is the same for any drug which has successfully remained illegal. Compromise, NHS charge patients for self-inflicted illness. 2) It costs the NHS a lot of money and therefore costs civilians a lot of tax. Counter: Medical insurance is compulsory in America. Can be applied to any activity eg. public education, which is preposterous. Disagreed: Different health systems in UK and US. Smoking tobacco not only costs the health service but also includes all my other points and is therefore more extreme. 3) Smoking should be banned to reduce the risk of influencing a new generation. Counter: Can be applied to any activity eg. cussing, lying, pornography, drinking, unfaithfulness and rude behaviour, which is preposterous. Disagreed: Smoking tobacco not only runs the risk of influencing a new generation but also includes all my other points and is therefore more extreme. AGAINST: 1) Many families survive by growing tobacco. Counter: Whilst legal, money made from the cutting of the health service budget by the government would mean a decrease in tax and therefore families would gain money in aspects of tax. Disagreed: People will continue to smoke despite the ban. Decrease in tax revenue. Counter: Health service budget would still be decreased I assume. 2) Increased crime rate. Counter: Money does not necessarily have to be spent on prisons etc. Like other consuming of illegal drugs, a fine could be placed and therefore the government would have more money to spend on worthwhile things. No response so agreement assumed. 3) Creation of organised crime would occur. Counter: Times have changed due to the smaller fear of speaking out for moral actions. Disagreed: Times have not changed, organised crime exists to this day. Counter: Referring to the Prohibition, rebellion was a matter of mob gangs and killing. Today, rebellion is continuing to smoke marijuana and is therefore less extreme than cases long ago. 4) Freedom is valued, we should be allowed to put our lives at risk by the lifestyle we choose. Counter: I believe the human right is "to do what a person wishes, if it does not harm others". Smoking harms others. No response so agreement assumed. 5) It would be unfair to not provide smokers with addiction treatment which would be a huge burden on the tax payer. Counter: The money the government can cut from the health service budget can care for this. Disagree: People will continue to smoke despite the ban. Counter: I assume a budget cut would still take place. 6) A ban on smoking would not prevent smoking. Counter: There are good people in this world who abide by the law. See previous arguments. Disagree: Tobacco is highly addictive, a ban would not prevent it's use. Counter: Other illegal drugs are still used today. Fines placed would increase the governments money! OVERALL: I think my argument is still strong and a good indication of why smoking tobacco should be made illegal. I believe that many compromises can be made, however. Such as, self-inflicted illness should be paid for by the patient rather than tax payers. I believe I have made some valid arguments and I remain with my views. I hope I have been persuasive in getting my points across. Thank you for this debate, it's been a pleasure! :)