We decided to place our “This is Public Health” sticker at Sweetbay supermarket near University Mall in Tampa. We chose this location because it is an area where many different people visit, either shopping at Sweetbay itself, or visiting the nearby stores. We placed our sticker on a newly designed public ashtray that has a hollow vase-like shape. We chose this item because many walk by Sweetbay, both smokers and non-smokers. As a result, ashtrays are a public necessity to keep the streets and sidewalks clean.
We believe that this newer-modeled public ashtray represents multiple public health-related issues: promoting cleaner air, taking responsibility for second-hand smoke, demonstrating action again littering, and cutting back on resource use. The truth is, Americans have a right to make their own choices, so we cannot argue with or punish people that choose to smoke. However, when it comes to the matter of public health, we need to find an option that will benefit the population, while avoiding restrictions of individual freedoms. This ashtray does not promote nor inhibit smoking; it simply has a unique design that prevents a person’s cigarette fumes from spreading in the air after it has been tossed in. This innovation lessens second-hand smoke as well as cuts back the amount of pollution in our communiites and waterways. In addition, the ashtray itself gives smokers the easy task of safely and quickly discarding their cigarettes, while at the same time reducing the amount of careless littering which could become a fire hazard. For example, if a cigarette butt was still ignited, tossed aside and wind-blown near bushes, the bushes could catch fire. Even further, this style ashtray also saves resources; little rocks or sand are not needed. Consequently, cleaning becomes more efficient and effortless.
Besides all these benefits, this ashtray is aesthetically appealing, showing us just how beautiful public health can be!
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