Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/742473
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2016 TIM DIACONO NO more smoking in cars when children are present, the govern- ment will lay down in a law that will come into force as of January 2017. Motorists will have to suppress their urge to smoke – including electronic cigarettes – until they arrive at their destination, if they want to avoid a €50 fine. In a press conference, Health Minister Chris Fearne also an- nounced that passengers caught smoking will subject both them- selves and the car driver to sepa- rate fines. The law, announced in the 2017 Budget, will come into force on 1 January and will be preceded by an awareness campaign and a pe- riod of training among police of- ficers and traffic wardens. "Smoke gets particularly con- centrated in cars, even when the windows are open," Fearne said during the launch of the 'You Smoke They Smoke' Awareness Campaign. "After a few minutes, the ef- fects on the secondhand smoker are the same as those on the smoker. The harmful effects of cigarette smoke are even more pronounced among children, whose neurological systems are still developing." Fearne rejected concerns that the new ban will be tantamount to undue interference by the gov- ernment in people's private lives. "The laws allow the authori- ties to intervene in people's pri- vate lives in matters where pub- lic health is concerned," he said. "The aim of this ban is to safe- guard the public health of mi- nors." He also said that the ban would help improve the health of mi- nors whose parents smoke at home. "Ideally, adults shouldn't smoke anywhere where there are chil- dren around and indeed that's what our awareness campaign will be focusing on," he said. "Canada had introduced a similar scheme though, and studies show that while it reduced the preva- lence of smoking inside cars, it didn't increase the prevalence of smoking at home." The ban also enjoys the support of the Tobacco Industry Advisory Council (TIAC). A similar law was introduced in England and Wales in October 2015, with drivers and passengers who break the law facing a pen- alty fine of £50. However, British police initially took a non-confrontational ap- proach. Similar bans are in place in Australia, Bahrain, Cyprus, France, Mauritius, South Afri- ca, UAE and in a number of US states. Moreover, other countries, in- cluding the Netherlands and Fin- land are in the process of intro- ducing a similar ban. Malta banned smoking in all enclosed public spaces, including public transportation, clubs and restaurants in 2004. tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt News Ban on smoking in cars carrying minors includes electronic cigarettes Smoking inside cars carrying children will become a crime as from January Yana Mintoff Bland stabbed by partner YANA Mintoff Bland, the 65-year-old daughter of the late former Labour prime minister Dom Mintoff, and her 32-year- old son suffered stab wounds during suspected domestic vio- lence at the Mintoff residence in Tarxien. According to a preliminary in- vestigation, Mintoff Bland suf- fered slight stab wounds to her chest and wrist during an argu- ment with her partner, Gheo- rghe Popa, 39. Her son, Daniel Main Waring, was at home at the time of the argument with his girlfriend and two other friends. Upon hearing the screams and shouts, Main Waring went to check upon his mother and got stabbed twice to his thigh as he tried to defend his mother. Mintoff and Main Waring were taken to the Paola health centre, which is a few minutes away by car from their residence. They were later referred to Mater Dei Hospital, where they were cer- tified to having suffered slight injuries. The incident, the police's com- munications office confirmed, happened on Monday at around 10pm. Meanwhile, back at the Mint- off residence, a fire was also re- ported and members of the Civil Protection Department were called in. The police later found Popa hiding in a tree behind the villa, covered in blood. The man was also hospitalised, suffering from grievous injuries. A magisterial inquiry has been appointed and a police investi- gation is underway. Yana Mintoff Bland, her partner and her son were all injured during the incident