Smoking: council wants exclusion zones outside children's play areas

Another day another piece of abject lunacy.

A council in North Wales wants to ban smoking in and around children's play areas.

A report by Conwy Council says, “Children are at particular risk of second-hand smoke and they are more likely to start smoking themselves if they see adults smoking in a family-friendly environment.”

I responded as best I could when invited to comment but words (almost) failed me.

Does anyone in their right mind honestly believe children (or anyone else) is at risk from other people's smoke in the open air?

Why ten metres? Why not five, or 50?

As for being influenced by the sight of adults smoking ... Well, it's true that children are influenced by family members or their peer group, but complete strangers? I'd like to see evidence of that.

Other councils in North Wales seem less inclined to follow Conwy's lead but don't rule it out.

Thanks to the Coalition government, councils have been given greater responsibility for public health and this is just the sort of eye-catching, headline-grabbing nonsense that will appeal to a certain type of local politician who wants to get his name in the paper.

Paul Bartlett, for example.

See: Plan to fine smokers who light up within 30ft of children's playgrounds (Daily Post)

Comments

[Pat Nurse]

I'd also question why children are at "particular" risk from adult consumers enjoying a legal product in the open air - evidence please? And not just made up junk science for dramatic effect to scare the stupid like Conwy councillors.

[Xopher]

“Children are at particular risk of second-hand smoke ........." In the open air!
And exactly what is the degree of risk and have they got figures to prove the number affected by the supposed death threatening medical consequences??
Thought not!

[The Blocked Dwarf]

I'm waiting for the inevitable middle class parental wail of "will no one think of the ashmaaAAAtics?!". Poor Tarquin and Jessica do suffer so (although why Tarquin and Jessica are allowed to play in the council play grounds and mix with children whose mothers aren't even on Mums Net...)

[Joyce]

I have to say, Simon, that I don't quite get your quoted comment: on the one hand you say that smoking in the open air doesn't harm anyone else yet later you say that FOREST doesn't encourage anyone to smoke in a children's play area.

Leaving aside the fact that FOREST isn't about encouraging or discouraging smoking in any case, that remark will be leapt on by TC along the lines of "even FOREST admits that smokers shouldn't smoke near children outdoors" (with the implication that if outdoors is bad, indoors must be very, very bad)

[Bucko]

It's quite possible my front garden is within 30 feet of a playground. There's one just over the road.
I wonder how that would work out when I'm sat on my bench with a beer and a fat cigar chatting to the neighbours who are doing the same.

[Blad Tolstoy]

The insignificants jump on the bandwagon. I'm glad to see Flintshire and Wrexham have no plans in this direction. Flintshire has above the national average smoking rate - apparently. Their car park charges are good too - only 20p for three hours and many car parks are free.

[Jeff]

'Another day another piece of abject lunacy.'

No Simon, no...please, I implore you to go forth and help implement my helpful suggestions set out below.

But before you read on please look into the centre of the spinning disc...your eye lids feel heavy...heavy...

Hell, why not kick around a few more ideas while we’re at it. How about the school handing out smoking cessation packs for children (remember we have to protect the children) to give to smoking parents? We can call this project ‘STOP’ you’re killing us with your smoke!

Perhaps we can put ‘STOP’ patches on school uniforms to show everybody how much we care about children. Each patch will be adorned around the perimeter with diseased lungs, or cancerous mouths.

What about a parents evening once a month (which eventually will become once a week) where the smoking parents will be coerced invited to come along and confess talk about their addiction to tobacco. They will then be given a questionnaire which they will be forced asked to fill in about their smoking habits.

I’m sure smoking parents will be made to might like to come along to smoking cessation courses which last two weeks (stretching to a month when the time is right), and perhaps taking part in a school play extolling the virtues of stopping smoking. Merit badges will be awarded at the end of the course to pupils who snitched and parents!

I can see so much more yet to come – and that makes me feel good and wholesome! I can hear birds singing in the trees and all around me the colours of the rainbow are vibrant and reassuring...join us Simon and walk amongst us.

But before you choose this godly path, go off and write to your MP – and if he/she doesn’t respond then keep bombarding them with these great ideas and many more of your own.
Please say you will – the health of our children depends upon it!

Isn't this so much more positive Simon – soon all our minds will think this way. Just keep looking at the centre of the spinning wheel – is your mind right yet…are you feeling better about this now? Keep your eyes closed and rest...rest...and rest some more.