Victory for child health
Fresh has joined councils, charities, health groups, doctors and the public in celebrating amendments passed in Parliament to protect children from toxic smoke in cars and tobacco promotion.
The House of Commons has approved Lords amendments to the Children and Families Bill, which give the Health Secretary the power to bring in Regulations which:
- Require cigarettes and other tobacco products to be sold in standard (“plain”) packaging with larger health warnings
- Make it an offence to smoke in cars where children under 18 are present.
- Impose an age of sale of 18 for e-cigarettes
- Make it an offence for adults to buy tobacco on behalf of children.
Most smokers start as children – the average age just 15 in the North East. Standard packaging for tobacco with larger health warnings and glossy logos removed is aimed at reducing youth smoking. The packs would also end once and for all myths that white and silver packs – formerly branded “low tars – are less harmful.
Young people have commented that the type of standard packs on shop shelves in Australia since 2012 are less tempting and more poisonous looking.
Smoking in cars is particularly harmful for children, as children are confined and smoke concentration often reaches very high levels. Children are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke as they have smaller lungs and less developed immune systems, developing diseases such as asthma and glue ear.
In a 2010 survey of children aged 11 to 15, around one child in five reported often being exposed to second-hand smoke in cars. Based on results from a 2012 survey of over 7,000 children aged 11-15, the British Lung Foundation calculated that around 185,000 children are exposed to cigarette smoke in their family cars ‘every day or on most days’, whilst around 430,000 children travel in smoky cars at least once a week.
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “MPs from all parties deserve massive credit for putting children’s health first today – now and in the future. There is massive public support for protecting our children from smoking and today is a victory for children’s health.
“Glossy, colourful packaging on cigarettes makes them more tempting for children to try when they are exposed to that situation. Removing this gift wrapping and replacing them with larger health warnings will end the cool association with brands and some of the peer pressure associated with that.
“A law on cars would protect tens of thousands of children and send a clear message to some drivers who smoke this is not OK. Opening a window does not help a great deal to remove the toxic smoke, which is why education alone is not enough.”
Cllr Paul Watson, Chair of the Association of North East Councils, said: “North East Councils have been supportive of this unique chance to protect the health of children in the North East and across the UK, and have encouraged our MPs to back this.
“Smoking is the biggest contributor to early death here in the North East with over 4000 people dying prematurely from tobacco every year, and around 9000 children starting to smoke.
“We believe that there is a role for government to legislate to protect our children from tobacco marketing and also exposure to second hand smoke in cars, and we are delighted they have done so.”
Surveys show 63% of North East adults support cigarettes being sold in standard packs, while 85% back a law on smoking in cars carrying children.