New Northern Ireland smoking law comes into effect today

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland has welcomed the implementation of the long-awaited law to ban smoking in cars carrying children.   

From Feburary 1, it is an offence to smoke in a private vehicle where children are present, when there is more than one person in the vehicle and the vehicle is enclosed. It will also be an offence for a driver to fail to prevent smoking in a smoke-free private vehicle.

Naomi Thompson, Health Improvement Manager at Cancer Focus NI said: “This is a significant move to a tobacco-free Northern Ireland.  We firmly believe that these new laws will protect children’s health. We have already protected adults in workplaces and public places from second-hand smoke and it’s high time we gave our young people the same protection. It’ll also reduce their perception that smoking is normal behaviour. We know that children who regularly see adults smoke are more likely to try smoking.” 

Northern Ireland is the last region in the UK to make this move. England and Wales implemented the ban in 2015, and Scotland and the Republic of Ireland in 2016.  

Legislation to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s will also come into effect from 1 February, mirroring current offences relating to tobacco sales.

Naomi Thompson, Cancer Focus NI

Ms Thompson continued: “Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine and nicotine is highly addictive, so it’s makes sense to limit access to e-cigarettes for under 18s. There are concerns that young people who start vaping and become addicted to nicotine, may also become tobacco smokers, so we see this legislation working not only to reduce usage of e-cigarettes among young people, but potentially reduce the number of young people who ultimately take up smoking.

“Both of these new laws, and all of the tobacco control measures and initiatives we have championed over the years, will make a real impact on smoking rates in Northern Ireland, and protect and improve the health of our young people.

“There’s no question that great work has been done, but there is still much more to do.  In the near future, we would also like to see smoking stubbed out wherever children play or learn including playgrounds, public parks and theme parks. As most smokers start while they are still children, it is vital that we can take every step possible to try and protect yet another generation from this deadly product.” 

Ms Thompson added: “There are 2,300 deaths caused by tobacco in Northern Ireland each year with thousands more affected by cancer, respiratory and other smoking related illnesses. The very best thing people could do to improve their health is to stop smoking.  If you need help to quit, Cancer Focus NI’s free, award-winning Stop Smoking service, funded by the Public Health Agency, is available via GP practices, health and wellbeing centres, community, workplace and youth settings.” 

For more information on Cancer Focus NI’s Stop Smoking support services visit www.cancerfocusni.org/smoking.