Regulating smoking in vehicles: proposed ban considered ineffective
In a recent development, Simone Borchardt, the health policy spokeswoman for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany and a member of the Bundestag, has criticized a proposed smoking ban in cars when minors or pregnant women are present. The proposed ban, which is being pushed by several states including North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, aims to protect children from tobacco smoke in cars due to expectations of voluntary restraint not being met.
Borchardt, however, considers an exclusive ban in cars to be a 'placebo' and believes that health policy should not be limited to symbolic individual measures. Instead, she advocates for a comprehensive strategy beyond a single measure like the proposed smoking ban. Prevention, she argues, should be the main focus in addressing the issue of smoking in cars.
On the other hand, the president of the Federal Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt, supports the proposed smoking ban in cars. He considers the initiative to be 'overdue' and believes that not smoking in the presence of minors or pregnant women should be a given. Reinhardt believes that the state should intervene where the insight to not smoke is lacking.
If the Bundesrat agrees to the proposal, it will be sent to the Bundestag for consideration. However, the proposal does not specify how the ban would be enforced in practice, nor does it mention any penalties or consequences for violating the proposed ban.
Borchardt's stance on the proposed smoking ban in cars does not align with that of Klaus Reinhardt. She emphasizes the need to prevent people from starting to smoke and provide support for those who want to quit. The proposed ban is not the only measure that Borchardt believes is necessary to address the issue of smoking exposure for children. She suggests that a holistic approach is required to tackle this complex problem effectively.
The draft bill aims to reintroduce the motion to amend the Federal Non-Smoker Protection Act in the Bundesrat on September 26. The debate on this issue is expected to continue as both sides present their arguments and seek to find a solution that best protects the health and wellbeing of children in Germany.
