[Active anti-smoking policy is a moral duty of government; responsibility for reducing smoking lies with both the individual and society].
Tobacco discouragement, smoking cessation and tobacco endgame policies are sometimes criticised for being unduly paternalistic: governments should respect citizens' freedom and not take over their individual responsibility for healthy behaviour. In this commentary, I argue that very strict tobacco policies can be justified on multiple grounds, including the harm principle, the public good of maintaining a healthy society, and the reduction of health inequities. The moral reasons governments have to protect people against the harms of smoking do not limit or infringe upon the responsibility of each individual to take care of her own health: responsibility for healthy behaviour is not a zero-sum game.
Wageningen Universiteit, afd. Maatschappijwetenschappen, Sectie Communicatie, Filosofie en Technologie, Wageningen.
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D005260:Female; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D028681:Moral Obligations; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011640:Public Policy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014026:Nicotiana