Britain Bans Smoking in Cars With Kids Inside

The ban could be enacted before the May 2015 elections.

February 14, 2014

LONDON – Parliament passed a bill that bans smoking in cars with children inside, the BBC reports. The measure gives ministers in Wales and England the authority to carry out the ban, but does not mandate that they do so. British ministers indicated that they would put the ban in place before the May 2015 elections.

The British Medical Association (BMA), which has pushed for such a ban for several years, touted the vote as an “important step forward in reducing tobacco harm.” “With both Houses of Parliament having made their support for the ban clear, the onus is now on the government to act accordingly and make this crucial child protection measure law at the earliest opportunity,” said Dr. Penny Woods, CEO of the British Lung Foundation.

Welsh government officials commented that they “will consider the possibility of legislation once we have fully evaluated the impact of the campaign. We have commissioned studies of children's exposure to second-hand smoke in cars and results will be available later this year.”

Meanwhile, a Scottish Parliament leader said he would introduce a bill to enact the ban in his country, while Northern Ireland’s health minister is investigating the issue. In other parts of the world, such bans are already in place. For example, California prohibits smoking in a car with children, as does certain parts of Australia and Canada.

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