Ban on smoking in cars urged to protect children

Anti-smoking campaigners today appealed to legislators to save children from the risks of passive smoking in cars.

Ash Ireland relaunched its drive to get health chiefs to ban cigarettes in cars carrying youngsters under 16.

Dr Angie Brown said passive smoke can be as much as 23 times more toxic in a vehicle than in a house because of the confined space.

"Passive smoke is a Group 1 cancer-causing carcinogen and as 14% of Irish children are exposed to these carcinogens and other toxic substances in cars our legislators must protect them," she said.

"As we discovered with use of seat belts and use of mobile phones in cars - the voluntary code is insufficient."

The Department of Health said while there are currently no proposals to introduce a ban on smoking in cars where there are children present, the matter will be kept under review.

"Exposure to cigarette smoke is particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces, such as cars, and parents and others with responsibility for the welfare of children have a particular responsibility to ensure that such exposure does not take place," said a spokeswoman.

Ash Ireland maintains almost eight out of 10 adults back the initiative.

"The high levels of public and smoker support for smoke-free car laws found in the studies to date suggest that this can be a relatively non-controversial tobacco control intervention," continued Dr Brown.

"The Irish Government has set the trend all around the world on tobacco health legislation and has received deserved recognition both at home and abroad.

"This initiative to protect children's health, while travelling in motor vehicles, would be widely welcomed."

About 7,000 people die from smoking related diseases in Ireland every year including heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema and cancer.

The Irish Cancer Society highlighted the need for a uniform, consistent and well-funded approach to stop-smoking services nationwide.

Marking the eve of National No Smoking Day - Ash Wednesday - the charity also called on the HSE to increase advertising spending on the National Smokers' Quitline.

Norma Cronin, the society's health promotion manager, said the Quitline received 19,076 calls in 2004 after a major advertising campaign compared to just 5,765 calls in 2010.

"Without sufficient advertising behind the Quitline, smokers wishing to quit are unaware of its existence and are not prompted to call," she added.

Meanwhile, pharmacy chain Boots said it will offer free stop smoking service to customers who try to quit on Ash Wednesday.

Stop for Good is a three-month, four-step programme incorporating ongoing support and advice and will include a breath test to monitor the amount of harmful carbon monoxide levels in the body.