UK City to Ban Smoking on the Beach

September 13, 2015

Unlocking Word Meanings
 今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. prohibit /proʊˈhɪb ɪt/ (v.) – to not allow something
Example: The authorities prohibit drinking among teens under 18.

2. extend /ɪkˈstɛnd/ (v.) – to reach a bigger area or aspect
Example: The school’s authority does not extend beyond the campus.

3. mindful /ˈmaɪnd fəl/ (adj.) – being aware of something
Example: You must be mindful of your surroundings to avoid any accidents.

4. lifestyle /ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl/ (n.) – the way an individual or group lives
Example: He switched to a healthier lifestyle after his surgery.

5. annually / ˈænjuːəli / (adv.) – year by year; every year
Example: We annually visit the countryside.


Article
 ニュース記事

Read the text below.
Brighton [BRAHYT-n] and Hove [hohv] might become the first city in the United Kingdom to prohibit smoking on the beach.

Smoking is already banned in children’s playgrounds in Brighton, but city councilors plan to extend the ban on beaches and parks. This proposal is part of the city council’s plan to create a place that is healthier for visitors.

Upon hearing the proposal, smokers’ group Forest has expressed its disapproval of the ban. Although smokers have the responsibility to be mindful of where and when to smoke, Forest director Simon Clark said that extending the ban to other open places would be against one’s individual freedom and lifestyle.

Although the group does not approve of the ban, majority of British citizens are in favor of the smoking ban on beaches. This is according to the survey by the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service, a company that offers online medical consultation in the United Kingdom. This survey found that 57% of more than 2,000 people surveyed approve of the said ban.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said that smoking continues to be one of the top causes of death in the United Kingdom. In England alone, more than 81,400 people aged 35 and above die from smoking every year.  In Northern Ireland, more than 2,300 deaths that stem from smoking-related diseases are recorded every year. About 13,500 people in Scotland also die every year because of smoking, while there are
5,600 smoking-related deaths recorded in Wales annually

Viewpoint Discussion
 ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you approve of the smoking ban on beaches? Why or why not?
·         What are your thoughts about Simon Clark’s and Forest’s sentiments?

Discussion B

·         What, for you, is a healthy lifestyle?
·         How else can the government encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle?

September 13, 2015