Scotland - government no plans to ban smoking in cars and public places used by children..

March 25, 2010 - The Scottish government [Holyrood, can be substituted for the Scottish Parliament] said there were currently no plans to ban smoking in private cars and public areas used by children. The comments came in a response to a report by the Royal College of Physicians. It said smoking in cars was an "important and persistent" factor in exposing children to cigarette smoke. Campaign group Forest, which opposes smoking bans, said such moves would be unacceptable and unenforceable.

Royal College of Physicians report concluded: banning smoking in cars would be "the simplest means" of preventing children from being exposed to dangerous tobacco smoke in vehicles. Dr Neil Dewhurst, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE), said: "Passive smoking (second hand smoke, shs, sidestream smoke, environmental tobacco smoke, ets, involuntary smoking) exposure levels in children have fallen by 40% in Scotland since the introduction of smoke-free legislation, but exposure levels in children of smokers remain high and demand further legislative action. (Scotland - Definite Health Benefits of Smoking Bans..)

Dr. Dewhurst: "We fully endorse today's report which calls for an extension of smoke-free legislation throughout the UK in order to include public areas frequented by children and in cars. The evidence is compelling. Passive smoking exposure significantly increases the risk of a range of diseases in children."

While there are currently no plans to extend the smoke-free laws to private cars, the Scottish Government is conscious that private cars are now one of the main places for exposure of children to second-hand smoke.

Dr Dewhurst said Scotland had led the UK (United Kingdom) in the introduction of smoke-free legislation and he called on the Scottish government to extend this legislation as a matter of priority.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: "The successful implementation of the smoke-free legislation has undoubtedly reduced exposure to second-hand smoke among children in Scotland, partly as a result of the greater awareness among their parents and those close to them about the risks of second-hand smoke. "In conjunction with our health improvement partners, we are continuing to do all we can to highlight the risks posed by second-hand smoke."

Reference: 'No plans' to ban smoking in cars, BBC News, 3/24/2010.

Scotland - related news briefs:
Scotland - smokers will be banned from fostering or adopting children, comments from Professor Banzhaf..;
Scotland - parliament votes to ban retail cigarette displays and vending machines..;
Scotland - health minister urges smokers to quit..;
Scotland - some men beginning to lead a healthier lifestyle and therefore living longer..;
Scotland - self-reporting of smoking by pregnant women underestimates true number of pregnant smokers..;
Scotland - tobacco firms claim proposed display ban is unnecessary..;
"Glasgow effect" - prevalence of cigarette smoking impact on poor health..;
Scotland - tobacco industry will try to stop attempts to curb sales to young people..;
Scotland - cigarette vending machines removal..;
Scottish politicans most have the courage to protect the health of their constituents..;
Scotland - small businesses given extra 2-years to remove tobacco displays..;
Northern Ireland - assembly approves ban on display of tobacco items..;
Scotland to ban cigarette displays and outlaw cigarette vending machines..;
Bar workers who smoke also benefit from smoking ban..;
17 countries in the world ban indoor smoking - ENFORCEMENT..;
England, Wales to ban tobacco displays in shops..;
Definite Health Benefits of Smoking Bans..;
Northern Ireland raising age for sale of tobacco from 16 to 18 joining the other three United Kingdom (UK) countries..;
Scotland proposes to implement more measures to discourage tobacco use including the banning of tobacco displays..;
Raise Age to 21 to Purchase Tobacco Products...