ASH Ireland disappointed 'Car Smoking Ban' has not been introduced

Date: 28 December 2008

ASH Ireland disappointed that
‘Car Smoking Ban’ has not been introduced to protect children


As 2008 draws to a close, ASH Ireland is very disappointed that its campaign to have smoking banned in cars transporting children under 16 years has not had a positive response from Government. ASH Ireland launched this campaign in February 2008, as there was irrefutable evidence to show that children who were transported in cars where adults smoked, were being put at risk.

Dr. Angie Brown, Chairperson ASH Ireland said today, “Many countries and regions have introduced such a ban and others continue to legislate for this child health issue. There is abundance of evidence to show that passive smoke can reach very high levels in motor vehicles - and as children have higher respiratory rates and metabolism than adults - the risks for them are greatly enhanced. I urge the Government and especially our Minister for Health & Children to consider this issue again in early 2009”.

ASH Ireland is also very keen that all remaining elements of the 2007 and 2004 Tobacco Health legislation is implemented – July 2009 has been identified as the date set for implementation of the ban on point of sale advertising. This matter has been ongoing for a considerable time and yet we still have massive signage for tobacco in all our retail outlets. Our children, understandably and rightly, use these retail outlets and it is not acceptable that they continue to be bombarded with tobacco advertising and promotion each time they do so.

ASH Ireland is also disappointed that there was little progress on the removal of tobacco from the CPI during 2008. Dr. Angie Brown said today, “We held a seminar on this ‘CPI tobacco issue’ last year and there was broad consensus between the social partners that removal of tobacco from the CPI was possible - with the leadership of government. Despite some exploratory meetings little progress has been made. It is widely accepted that price is the most effective means of encouraging adults to quit smoking and discouraging young people from experimentation. It is clear that unless we remove tobacco from the CPI we will not have an effective and consistent ‘price increase’ policy because of inflation fears”.

ASH Ireland again warns that we must not become complacent about smoking prevalence in this country. We had a significant reduction in smoking levels after the workplace ban was introduced – and since then we have had gradual increases. A Slan survey published in April this year gave very little scope for comfort, as there was no evidence of a further decrease in ‘levels’ and indications that in some categories, levels had increased. E.g. (18-29 year old women in social classes 5 and 6 have smoking rates of 56% - twice the national average)

Close to 7,000 people die from tobacco use in this country each year and billions of euro are spent on health services in treating tobacco related illness. If we can reduce the impact of tobacco on our society we will save lives and be in a position to divert millions of euro annually to other seminars within our health service.

ENDS

Wally Young, Young Communications, 01 6680530, 087 2471520
Valerie Coghlan, ASH Ireland, 087-6400542

The Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation fund ASH Ireland