Ban on smoking in the car: Experts call for real action against tobacco!

Ban on smoking in the car: Experts call for real action against tobacco!

In Germany, the discussion about a ban on smoking in cars when minors or pregnant women are driving continues to cause controversy. Numerous states, including North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, are relying on stricter regulations to protect vulnerable groups from the risks of passive smoking. However, the Union parliamentary group's health policy spokeswoman, Simone Borchardt, criticizes this step as inadequate and sees it as a "placebo". According to lippewelle.de, she instead calls for a comprehensive prevention strategy against tobacco consumption.

The bill, which is to be introduced in the Federal Council on September 26th, provides for a ban on tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and cannabis when vulnerable people are in the car. This regulation is part of a larger health policy push under Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who wants to implement the change in the law at the same time as the planned legalization of cannabis. At a time when passive smoking can cause serious illnesses, there is great pressure for change.

Focus on health risks

The President of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt, supports the initiative and describes it as “overdue”. Secondhand smoke can cause serious health problems, especially in children and the unborn. Diseases such as coronary heart disease, strokes and lung cancer are just some of the health consequences associated with inhaling tobacco smoke. According to the German Cancer Research Center, around a million children and young people in Germany are exposed to tobacco smoke while driving, which is reaching alarming proportions.

Despite support from children's charities and calls for a stricter smoking ban, there are concerns about its constitutionality. Cars are currently considered private spaces in Germany, which makes the legal basis for a smoking ban more difficult. In contrast, several European countries such as Italy and France have already introduced similar rules.

International perspectives

The international health organization WHO has highlighted the need for increased tobacco controls in a new report. Particular attention is paid to the introduction of graphic health warnings and neutral packaging. These measures could also be taken into account in Germany to curb the widespread health risks of tobacco consumption and protect future generations from addiction. Over seven million people worldwide die from tobacco-related diseases every year, underscoring the urgency of this issue. The WHO is calling for further loopholes to be closed in order to better protect the health of the population, according to WHO.

The measures to prevent smoke have received a mixed response. While many healthcare industry representatives support the proposal, it remains unclear what the legislative implementation will look like. The upcoming submission of the bill to the Federal Council is therefore awaited with great interest. If one manages to use the legislative period to work towards changing the population's behavior and to make support services for smoking cessation more effective, this could be an important step in health prevention.