Smoke ban drives forward

Michael Alexander

The social acceptability of tobacco took another dent this week as a new law making it illegal to smoke in a car with a child present came into force in Scotland. Anyone caught lighting up in a private vehicle with someone aged under 18 on board now faces an on-thespot penalty of £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 if convicted at court.

Smokers’ group Forest has branded the regulations “patronising and unnecessary”. But the British Medical Association (BMA) has called on the Scottish Government to go even further and introduce a complete ban on smoking in vehicles.

BMA Scotland chairman Dr Peter Bennie said: “Children are still developing physically and, as a result, are more susceptible to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

“When someone smokes in a vehicle it creates a concentrated source of exposure to second-hand smoke.

“An outright ban on smoking in vehicles would ensure that adults, and particularly vulnerable adults, who may be unable to object to others smoking while they are present, are also protected. This would also be easier to enforce.”

The Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Bill was passed unanimously by MSPs almost a year ago, with the aim of protecting young people from second-hand smoke, which can cause serious conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma.

Research shows the toxic particles in exhaled smoke can reach harmful concentrations within a minute of lighting a cigarette in a car, and this is particularly dangerous to children.

The Scottish Government said the measure was part of its plans to create a “tobacco-free generation” by 2034, defined as one with a smoking rate of less than 5%.

Although smoking prevalence in Scotland has decreased gradually, tobacco use is still associated with more than 10,000 deaths and around 128,000 hospital admissions every year.

The new rules do not apply if you or someone in the car is smoking with an electronic cigarette (vaping).

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: “Our target to reduce the proportion of children exposed in the home from 12% to 6% by 2020 has been met five years early.

“The ban on smoking in cars will help to build on that success by reinforcing the message that the toxic fumes from www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk (Family cigarette smoke are harmful – particularly to children.”

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of antismoking charity Ash Scotland, said the move sent a clear message that children should grow up in a smokefree environment.

Dr Steve Turner, officer for Scotland for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said it was a “significant step forward”.

But other campaigners have criticised the new law.

Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest, said: “The regulations are patronising and unnecessary.

“Very few adults smoke in cars with children. Smokers know it’s inconsiderate and the overwhelming majority don’t do it.

“So few people smoke when there’s a child in the car it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“The law is a classic example of virtue signalling. It’s utterly pointless and a complete waste of time and resources that could be better spent elsewhere.”

A law banning smoking in vehicles carrying children came into force in England and Wales in October 2015.

Previous efforts to clamp down on smoking and improve health in Scotland include a ban on smoking in public places which came into force 10 years ago and a ban on under-18s buying tobacco products.

A significant step forward

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Picture: PA. The BMA has urged the Scottish Government to go even further by implementing a complete ban in all vehicles. What should be banned?