Non-smokers need to realise that inhaling cigarette fumes can lead to serious health problems and so should stop tolerating smoking in public places, according to cardiologist Robert Xuereb.
“When a non-smoker sits in a smoke-filled restaurant for half an hour he increases his risk of a heart attack by 30 per cent,” Dr Xuereb said.
While people knew that second-hand smoke was harmful, there was not enough awareness about the extent of its harm, he said, adding that people should have the courage to “politely” stop anybody smoking in public places.
The results of a Eurobarometer survey, published this week, proved what many already knew, that people still smoke in bars and ignore the ban introduced eight years ago.
A third of Maltese respondents surveyed said they witnessed the law being broken, highlighting a lack of enforcement.
Dr Xuereb believes the best way to fight this is to raise awareness among smokers and non-smokers about the hazards of passive smoking.
The authorities should also consider increasing the fine handed down to anyone caught smoking illegally – now set at €233 – and fine bar owners to ensure the deterrent is stronger.
Dr Xuereb is the author of a paper, titled The Smoking Ban: The Malta Paradox, presented last year. He found that the smoking ban led to a decrease in the heart disease death rate and hospital admissions in every country where it was introduced but had absolutely no impact in Malta. This was pinned on the lack of enforcement.
Lack of enforcement was also raised by substance abuse agency Sedqa on Thursday. The agency complained that alcohol was illegally being sold to teenagers under the legal drinking age of 17. This amplified Malta’s problem where underage drinking and binging remained very high.
Questions were sent to the police asking what was leading to this lack of enforcement and whether the force had the resources to clamp down on the problem. They remained unanswered at the time of writing.
Asked about the impact on public health and what was being done to address these issues, a Health Ministry spokesman said: “The health inspectorate is already doing its utmost on enforcement of other tobacco-related regulation such as advertisement, health warnings on packets, vending machines… legal action is also taken by the inspectorate in case of non-compliances”.