The government intends to ban smoking in cars when minors are present, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.
The new law will follow in the footsteps of many other European countries which have already introduced legislation making it illegal to smoke in a car or other vehicles when accompanied by anyone under the age of 18.
The law is intended to protect children and young people from the dangers of second-hand smoke. A spokeswoman for the Health Ministry confirmed that work had begun on introducing the new regulation.
“The health impact of being exposed to second-hand smoke is well established. Second-hand smoke consists of a mixture of gases and fine particles that is either emitted from a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe, or exhaled by smokers.
“In all, second-hand smoke contains at least 250 toxic chemicals, including more than 50 carcinogens. Second-hand smoke exposure is particularly harmful for children because they have smaller lungs and a weaker immune system,” the spokeswoman said.
She said the Health Department was “reviewing the situation and discussing this matter with all stakeholders, to be able to present draft legislation on the subject matter”.
Second-hand smoke contains at least 250 toxic chemicals, including more than 50 carcinogens
According to recent studies, Maltese children are frequently exposed to tobacco smoke through passive and personal smoking.
Thirty-one per cent of five- to eight-year olds are passive smokers, with their father most likely to be the smoker. The studies also found that maternal smoking in the first year of the child’s life resulted in the children having an increased chance of wheezing, exercise-induced wheezing and being diagnosed with asthma.
The percentage of passive smokers in 13- to 15-year-olds increased to 51 per cent, again with the father more likely to be the smoker. Maternal and paternal smoking resulted in children having an increased chance of wheezing sometime in their life, exercise-induced wheezing, nocturnal cough, and being diagnosed with asthma.
According to the studies, every time a child breathes in second-hand smoke, they breathe in thousands of chemicals, putting them at risk of serious conditions including meningitis, cancer, bronchitis and pneumonia.
In Malta, smoking was restricted in all-enclosed public spaces, including public transportation, clubs and restaurants in April 2004, although there are frequent complaints about the lack of enforcement of the law, especially in bars and clubs.
Several European countries have introduced a ban when it comes to vehicles. In France, for example, it is forbidden to smoke in private vehicles in the presence of children under the age of 12. The UK introduced a similar law in October last year, banning smoking in cars with anyone under 18.