From Manx forums.com
http://www.manxforums.com/forums/index. ... -children/The House of Keys this week voted overwhelmingly to give a third reading to the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2015, that provides for fixed penalty notices to be imposed for smoking offences as an alternative to court action.
This paves the way for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture to bring forward legislation banning people from smoking in vehicles where there are child passengers.
The Public Health Bill also bans tobacco advertising and displays and prohibits the sale of cigarettes from vending machines.
Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle said his department is keen to reduce the burden of ill health caused by tobacco use and is committing to providing incentives for people to quit smoking.
He told the Keys: ‘The department wants to do everything possible to shield people, and particularly young people, from the influence of tobacco product advertisements and displays and easy access to cigarettes.
‘Additional controls have already been established in the UK and two public consultations have shown the majority of people support similar controls for the Isle of Man.
‘The department had also identified a need to do more to protect people from second hand smoke.’
David Quirk (Onchan) said he had no sympathy for those parents who smoke in front of children. ‘They are putting their children at risk,’ he said.
Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) was the only MHK to vote against. He said he supported the idea that responsible adults should not be smoking in a car if there are children present. But he questioned the merits of using primary legislation to ban tobacco advertising, suggesting there needed to be more flexibility to allow the potential for commercial advertising in the future.
Even Mr Karran’s party leader, Kate Beecroft (Douglas South), did not support his view, however. ‘I don’t think principles should be put to one side because we need the money.’
Mr Quayle said: ‘Yes it may lose the island advertising but the whole world is against tobacco advertising.’
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