HSC proposing ban on smoking in vehicles carrying children

Monday 08 April 2024

The Committee for Health & Social Care has today published recommendations to create a healthier environment for children and young people in Guernsey, by making it an offence to smoke in vehicles carrying children.

Second-hand smoke inside cars is particularly dangerous because the concentration of toxins is often greater than in any other micro-environment and because children have little or no control over the environment in which they are placed. There is no safe level of second-hand smoke exposure.

Deputy Al Brouard, President of the Committee for Health & Social Care, said:

"The Committee is delighted to publish its proposals which will protect and improve the health of children and young people. Guernsey has a history of determined tobacco control policy and the Committee is keen to build on the legislation it most recently implemented in 2021 - to prohibit branding on tobacco packaging - by recommending a ban on smoking in cars carrying children."

Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, said:

"The concentration of cancerous toxins present in tobacco smoke in cars is considerable so the proposal to ban smoking in cars carrying children is welcomed. Legislative measures to create smokefree environments for children and young people not only protects their health but will also reduce the likelihood that they will take up smoking themselves. We know that children and young people are being exposed to second hand smoke in cars. The Children and Young Peoples' Survey highlighted that 6% of Primary School children (Year 6) and 9% of young people in Secondary School (Year 8 and 10) responded that someone smokes in a car when they are in it. This illustrates the need for change."

The Committee's proposals can be read in full at Prohibition of smoking in vehicles carrying children, and growing tobacco - States of Guernsey (gov.gg).