The BBC is reporting that a ban on smoking in cars with children will begin in October 2015.
Car smoke ban 'to start in October' (BBC News)
The BBC report includes a short quote from me. Forest's full response was:
The smokers' group Forest says regulations prohibiting smoking in cars with children are "unnecessary", "excessive" and a "gross intrusion on people's privacy".
Director Simon Clark said, "The government is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"The overwhelming majority of smokers know smoking in a car with children is inconsiderate and they don't do it.
"The regulations are unnecessary and excessive. Do we really want to criminalise people for lighting a cigarette in a private vehicle?
"How is the law going to be enforced? The police have better things to do than look for drivers smoking on the off chance there's a child in the car.
"The next step will be a ban on smoking in all private vehicles followed by measures to prevent smoking in the home.
"It's a gross intrusion on people's privacy."
I'm in Dublin today but I'm scheduled to be on Five Live around 6.30 (if they can get me out of the pub).
Oh, and the BBC News Channel is trying to book a studio so they can also interview me. (This is seriously ruining my plans for the evening!)
Yesterday I gave a short interview to BBC News health editor Hugh Pym. If I survive the edit I'll be on the Six O'Clock and Ten O'Clock News.
Update: Kingdom FM in Fife has just taught me how to record and send a Voice Memo using my iPhone.
As a result I was able to record my reaction to the car smoke ban story and email it to them for immediate broadcast.
Apparently the sound quality is far superior to recording via landline or mobile.
Simon Clark
Forest is quoted in the following reports:
Car smoke ban 'to start in October' (BBC News)
Smoking banned in cars when children are present (Daily Telegraph)
Smoking in cars containing children to be BANNED next year (Daily Mirror)
Smokers who light up with children in the car face being fined £50 (Daily Mail)