The Federal Minister of Health is in favor of a ban on smoking in vehicles: at least when pregnant women or children are present. A corresponding reference draft is available.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) plans to introduce a smoking ban in vehicles of all kinds, insofar as minors and pregnant women are sitting in the car. The smoking ban will apply to tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and cannabis.
As the editorial network Germany (RND) reports, citing a draft bill from Lauterbach’s ministry, the non-smoker protection law is to be changed accordingly as part of the cannabis legalization planned by the traffic light coalition.
“By extending the smoking ban to closed vehicles in the presence of minors and pregnant women, the necessary protection against passive smoking is guaranteed for this particularly vulnerable group of people,” says the draft. Otherwise, unborn children and minors would not be able to avoid the health problems caused by passive smoking.
Passive smoking can cause serious illnesses
Just like smoking itself, the inhalation of tobacco smoke from the ambient air can trigger serious illnesses, argues the explanatory memorandum. “Various studies show that the smoke exposure in the car is extremely high because of the small volume of space,” it continues.
“According to reliable studies, passive smoking also causes many serious illnesses and deaths, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sudden infant death,” the RND quotes from the draft. In addition, a causal connection between passive smoking and lung cancer has already been proven by various studies.
The draft goes on to say that the concentration of tobacco smoke particles in the vehicle increases “rapidly” when smoking a single cigarette.
Draft bill not yet finalized
A ban on smoking in vehicles in the presence of children has been discussed time and again in recent decades. Critics of the project have always raised the objection that a ban on smoking in cars would not be sufficiently controllable.
In the event of a violation of smoking bans, the Federal Non-Smoking Protection Act provides for a fine to punish the same – a specific amount has not yet been mentioned.
According to RND information, the draft bill has not yet been finalized with the other federal ministries and departments. Before a possible decision by the federal cabinet, there could also be changes to the draft.
Source used: RND
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