Britain intends to ban smoking in cars
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The British Medical Association calls for a complete ban on smoking in private cars, based on "convincing evidence" of protecting public health and vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly.
In a press release, the voluntary professional association, which includes two-thirds of practicing doctors from the UK, stated that it had prepared an information document that shows the toxic effects of tobacco smoke in cars on non-smokers.
Members of the Scientific Council of the BMA overwhelmingly supported the call for a legislative regulation of the ban on smoking in private cars.
Vivien Nathanson, director of professional activities at the BMA, said the UK has made a "huge step" in banning smoking in closed public places, but it can do even more: "We are appealing to the UK government to take bold and courageous steps to ban smoking in private The expansion of the ban on smoking at the legislative level is extremely necessary. "
Experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of people around the world, including 4,000 adults and 23 children in the UK, die each year from the passive inhalation of tobacco smoke.
Passive smoking in cars leads to inhaling levels of toxins, which are sometimes 23 times higher than in smoke bars. Children are more susceptible to second-hand smoke, they absorb more toxins due to the weak development of the immune system.
Elderly people are another vulnerable group, in view of the age-related problems of the pulmonary system, which can be exacerbated by inhalation of tobacco toxins.
In addition, smoking is a potential threat to road safety, as it distracts drivers.
The House of Commons of the parliamentary group on smoking and health is currently considering changes in existing legislation to reduce smoking. However, it is also necessary to analyze the potential harm data for children and adults from passive smoking in cars.
The lobbying group of smokers spoke out against the ban. A spokesman for this group, Simon Clarke, said that they "do not agree with the data provided by the BMA about the serious health risks of children from passive smoking in cars."
"Attraction of legislation is a gross overreaction.What next will be the ban on smoking in the house?" said Clark.
The UK is not the first country to consider banning smoking in cars: some countries have already done so. It is against the law to smoke in cars with children in some states of Canada, Australia and the USA, as well as throughout South Africa.
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