In depth: Smoking ban - the benefits - especially for public health - far outweigh the disadvantages - je 8.1.2008

But, on the bright side, the smoking ban should prove very beneficial to bartenders and waitresses across the country who are forced to work in a smoke-filled atmosphere day in and day out. And parents no longer have to worry about exposing their children to second hand smoke in all public places except Starbucks and McDonalds. All in all, the benefits - especially for public health - far outweigh the disadvantages. And the medical numbers to back that up are slowly trickling in from other countries where the bans have been in place longer.