There has been much discussion recently regarding banning
smoking inside cars carrying children, in the lead up to MPs voting to legislate against it
by 376 to 107 votes. The decision comes after recommendation
of the move by the Royal College of Physicians and a letter in the British
Medical Journal signed by
584 physicians calling for a ban.
The vote by MPs allows, but does not require, ministers to
bring in the ban, and the shadow health minister has called on minsters not to delay in implementing
the move. The move has predictably been opposed by organisations such as
the tobacco industry funded
Freedom Organisation for the Right to
Enjoy Smoking Tobacco and the move is apparently opposed by the Deputy
Prime Minister. However, in
addition to the well-publicised
health benefits, the move will also reduce health
inequalities. Analysis of the Smoking,
Drinking and Drug Use Survey of 11 to 15 year olds surveyed in 2012 found
that overall 37.0% of these children had been exposed to smoke inside cars in
the previous year. Exposure was considerably higher in children on Free School
Meals than those not (48.6% vs. 34.8%) and analysis adjusting for age and sex
found that these children were nearly twice as likely to be exposed (Adjusted
Odds Ratio 1.83, 95% Confidence Interval 1.55 to 2.16). The survey asked
children whether they were exposed to smoke inside the family, or another
vehicle, and these results gave a similar picture.
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