IT would be “remiss” of Jersey not to follow the UK with a smoking ban, according to a member of the Island’s Primary Care Body – after MPs backed plans to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2008.
Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail also contended that Jersey could “go further” by banning vapes as well.
His comments come shortly after the UK parliament passed legislation making it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
Dr Ó Tuathail said: “There is no benefit to smoking whatsoever and it is associated with huge numbers of conditions, from cardiac conditions, to respiratory conditions, to most cancers.”
He added that the Primary Care Body “would absolutely be supportive of a smoking ban” and “probably go further” by also seeking a ban on vapes, describing the devices as “very often” a starting point that lead to cigarette use.
Acknowledging that the UK legislation applied to those born post-2008, Dr Ó Tuathail said: “My personal preference would be an immediate ban, but I think that’s a fair compromise.
“It would be remiss of Jersey not to follow.”
He also cited the “enormous” cost to health services stemming from diseases associated with smoking.
“There’s the direct cost of treating those conditions,” he continued.
“The other cost to that is the amount of time off work people take as a result of illnesses caused by cigarette smoking.”
A study by Island Global Research last year, which drew feedback from more than 1,300 Islanders, found that over 60% of respondents across all age groups would support a phase out approach of banning smoking and vaping for those born in 2009 or later.
Children’s Minister Richard Vibert recently told the JEP that he “would encourage anything that would reduce smoking and the risk of cancer when people get older and that would provoke a healthier life for young people.”
