planned tightening of the law
Lauterbach wants to ban smoking in cars with children
7/7/2023 3:33 am
Passive smoking is harmful, but you can hardly escape the smoke in the car. According to the will of the Federal Minister of Health, a smoking ban should apply in future in vehicles in which children or pregnant women are sitting.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wants to ban smoking in vehicles in the future if minors or pregnant women are on board. As the editorial network Germany (RND) reports, citing a draft bill from Lauterbach’s ministry, the non-smoker protection law is to be changed accordingly as part of the cannabis legalization planned by the traffic light coalition.
With the ban, the “necessary protection against passive smoking is guaranteed” for the “particularly vulnerable group of people” of minors and pregnant women, according to the draft according to the RND. Unborn children and minors cannot escape the particular burden that passive smoking threatens and are particularly at risk. The smoke pollution in the car is “extremely high because of the small volume of space”. Passive smoking causes “according to reliable studies” many “serious illnesses and deaths”. Among other things, a causal connection between passive smoking and lung cancer has been proven.
According to the draft, the ban should apply to tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and cannabis. According to the RND, the draft bill from the SPD-led ministry has not yet been coordinated with all other departments. It could therefore still be changed before a decision by the federal government. The Federal Non-Smoking Protection Act provides for a fine in the event of an attempt against smoking bans, but does not specify a specific amount.
The Federal Council has already made several attempts to protect children and pregnant women from passive smoking in the car. In March last year, the Chamber of States presented a draft amendment to the Non-Smoker Protection Act.