Group to continue fight for ban on smoking in cars

AN anti-smoking lobby group will continue to lobby for smoking to be banned in cars to protect children, despite failing to persuade the Government to introduce the prohibition.

ASH Ireland launched the campaign to outlaw smoking in cars last February, after a study revealed children were breathing in deadly amounts of tobacco fumes when travelling in cars with parents who smoke.

The lobby group believed a study by the Tobacco Research Unit in Ontario, Canada, was more than enough to convince the Government to introduce a car smoking ban to protect children under the age of 16.

The study had revealed children who travel in cars while their parents smoke are breathing in air containing 100 times the “safe” level of pollution.

And it further showed children are still at risk from harmful levels of pollutants, even if parents opened the windows or put on air conditioning while smoking.

ASH Ireland chairwoman Dr Angie Brown said many countries had introduced a car smoking ban.

“There is an abundance of evidence to show that passive smoke can reach very high levels in motor vehicles and, as children have higher respiratory rates and metabolism than adults, the risks for them are greatly enhanced,” she said.

Responding to the issue earlier this year, Health Minister Mary Harney said there was an onus on parents and other adults to protect children from smoke.

ASH Ireland said it will continue to put pressure on the Government and Ms Harney to introduce the car smoking ban.

With almost 7,000 dying from tobacco use in Ireland every year, the lobby group is anxious that all remaining elements of the 2007 and 2004 Tobacco Health legislation is implemented.

July 2009 is the date set for the implementation of the ban on point of sale advertising but ASH Ireland says it is unacceptable that there is still massive signage for tobacco in retail outlets.

It is also disappointed that little progress has been made in the removal of tobacco from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) during 2008.

Dr Brown pointed out there was broad consensus among the social partners that the removal of tobacco from the CPI was possible if the Government showed leadership on this issue.

She added that it was widely accepted that price was the most effective way to encourage adults to quit smoking and discourage young people from starting.