Wales to ban people smoking in cars carrying children

A ban on people smoking in private vehicles when children are present will be introduced in Wales, First Minister Carwyn Jones and Health Minister Mark Drakeford have announced.

A public consultation on the proposals will be launched shortly.

The Welsh Government has said the ban will protect children from exposure to second-hand smoke in the confined spaces of a vehicle.

The decision to move to a ban comes after Wales became the first country in the UK to tackle the issue of smoking in vehicles when children are present.

In 2011, the First Minister announced the Welsh Government’s intention to mount a campaign to tackle children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in cars. He also said legislative options would be considered if such exposure did not start to fall within three years.

The First Minister said: “In 2012, we launched the Fresh Start Wales campaign to promote smoke-free cars carrying children and raise awareness to parents and others the risk their smoking poses to the health of children. We made clear throughout that campaign we would consider the possibility of legislation when evidence of prevalence of smoking in cars carrying children in Wales is available in the summer of 2014.

“While I welcome the fact the number of children being exposed to smoking in cars has declined, a sizeable minority of young people are still being exposed and adults continue to smoke in their cars when children are present.

“There is also evidence from the primary school survey that inequalities in children’s exposure to second hand smoke remains, so we will press ahead with plans to ban people smoking in cars carrying children.”

Plaid Cymru South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle has been a vocal supporter of such a ban and has welcomed the announcement.

He said: “The British Lung Foundation is clear that the effect on children of passive smoking in a confined area such as a car or van is very harmful.

“In fact, 82% of the public said they supported prohibition of smoking in cars carrying children and the same percentage said they would comply with a ban if one was introduced.

“This law will not be an assault on adults’ freedom to smoke. It will be a law upholding the rights of children to be free from harm. We shall be watching closely to make sure that the result of the intended consultation will be a law that will put Wales in line with a number of countries and various states in the USA, Canada and Australia.”

New research published by the Welsh Government suggests the number of children exposed to second-hand has declined.

It found:

• The number of people who do not allow smoking in their main car has increased, from 71% in September 2011 to 76% in November 2013;
• Awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke has increased over the last three years; in November 2013, 88% of people agreed second-hand smoke can cause significant health problems;
• More than four out of five people agreed smoking should be banned in cars carrying children across all surveys carried out, reaching 84% in November 2013;
• Fewer than 10% of respondents agreed it was acceptable to smoke in a car with either non-smokers or children, including with a window open;
• Some 90% of respondents did not think a ban on smoking in cars carrying children would affect them in any way.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The research findings clearly show there is public support for not allowing smoking in cars when carrying children and that this support – and awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke – have increased over the last three years.

“Although the research findings show that progress has been made in reducing children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in cars, we now believe the introduction of regulations to prohibit smoking in private vehicles carrying under-18s is needed as the final piece in the jigsaw to eliminate the harm and end persistent inequalities in exposure.

“We will now consult on these proposals and I urge people to have their say.”

Doctors’ leaders have welcomed the proposed ban.

Dr Richard Lewis, Secretary of BMA Cymru Wales, said: “This is an important step forward in reducing tobacco harm by stopping children from being exposed to second-hand smoke in private vehicles.

“Children are still developing physically and, as a result, they are more susceptible to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

“Adults who smoke in the presence of children are not acting in the children’s best interest; therefore it is the Welsh Government’s duty to change legislation in order to protect them.”