England to Ban Vaping in Cars with Children Amid Health Concerns
The UK government has announced plans to prohibit vaping and the use of heated tobacco in cars carrying anyone under the age of 18 in England. This measure is included in the new tobacco and vapes bill, which aims to reduce the harm caused by smoking and e-cigarettes, following growing evidence of health risks associated with secondhand vapour.
Expanding Existing Legislation
Since 2015, smoking in cars with children and young people up to 18 has been illegal in England. The proposed legislation will extend this ban to include vaping and heated tobacco products. Additionally, the bill will outlaw smoking, vaping, and heated tobacco use in playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals, targeting public spaces where vulnerable individuals may be exposed.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the importance of protecting children and patients, stating, "No child in a playground or hospital patient should suffer because someone else chooses to smoke. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer, and we want to protect children and the sick from harm."
Rising Evidence and Youth Vaping Trends
The Department of Health and Social Care highlighted that the measures are necessary due to emerging evidence about the dangers of heated tobacco and vaping. Officials noted that emissions from heated tobacco and secondhand vapour from e-cigarettes pose health risks, although research is ongoing. At the same time, youth vaping has increased sharply in recent years, raising concerns about nicotine addiction and potential long-term health effects.
However, the bill does not include a ban on smoking outside pubs, and it exempts smoking or vaping in care homes, hospices, mental health hospitals, and residential schools, reflecting a nuanced approach to regulation.
Public Consultation and Expert Opinions
The proposed measures are subject to a public consultation launched on Friday, which will run for 12 weeks until May 8. This process aims to gather feedback on balancing protection for children with support for adults who use vapes as a smoking cessation tool.
Caroline Cerny, deputy chief executive of the health campaign charity Action on Smoking and Health, supported the government's exploration of the ban, stating, "This consultation, and the wider legislation it is part of, is focused on protecting children. Although exposure to secondhand vapour is significantly less harmful than secondhand smoke, it is reasonable to consider whether steps should be taken to minimise any potential risk – particularly in small, enclosed spaces such as cars where children are present."
Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, added, "People who do not smoke but who are exposed to secondhand smoke can suffer significant harmful effects on their health, including an increased risk of asthma, poor birth outcomes, several cancers, stroke, and heart disease."
The government's move underscores a broader effort to address public health challenges linked to tobacco and vaping, with a focus on safeguarding younger generations from potential harms.
