Welsh Government proposes new laws to improve public health
2 Apr 2014 04:10 PM
New measures to address some of
Wales’ major public health challenges, including high levels of drinking
and smoking, are being put forward by the Welsh Government today (Wednesday 2
April).
Health Minister
Mark Drakeford has published a White Paper setting out a number of radical
legislative proposals including:
- introducing a minimum price for alcohol of 50p per unit
to reduce the harms associated with alcohol overuse and misuse;
- restricting the use of e-cigarettes in public places to
address concerns these products normalise smoking and undermine the enforcement
of the smoking ban;
- introducing a tobacco retailers’ register
requiring businesses to inform enforcement authorities if they sell tobacco,
with stiffer penalties for those which sell to under 18s.
Speaking on the
seventh anniversary of the introduction of the smoking ban in Wales, Professor
Drakeford said:
“Taking
concerted, collective action to address public health concerns remains one of
the most powerful contributions any government can make to the welfare and
wellbeing of its population.
“Alcohol and
tobacco contribute to many life-threatening illnesses and are major causes of
persistent inequalities in health.
“There is
indisputable evidence that the price of alcohol matters. It’s no
coincidence that as the affordability of alcohol has increased substantially,
so has alcohol-related death and disease. A minimum unit price will make
a strong contribution to preventing alcohol overuse and misuse and reducing
alcohol-associated illnesses.
“I have
concerns about the impact of e-cigarettes on the enforcement of Wales’
smoking ban. That’s why we are proposing restricting their use in
enclosed public places.
“I am also
concerned that their use in enclosed public places could normalise smoking
behaviour.
“E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly
addictive, and I want to minimise the risk of a new generation becoming
addicted to this drug.
“The
proposals in the White Paper are based on good prudent healthcare principles
– taking proportionate and preventative action to improve public health
and reduce the likelihood of individuals becoming dependent on costly treatment
later in life, when it might also be too late to make a lasting difference to
their health.
“They also
carry on the tradition of Welsh radicalism, especially in public health, to
help improve the lives of all.”
Other proposals in
the White Paper, which will be subject to consultation, include;
- whether
to make it an offence to deliver a tobacco product ordered online to someone
under 18, even if the item was ordered by an adult. This would operate
alongside the new proxy purchase offence in the UK Children and Families Act to
protect under 18s from accessing tobacco;
- introducing a national register requiring businesses and
practitioners providing cosmetic piercing, tattooing and other special
procedures to improve regulation and set specific standards such as cleanliness
and hygiene;
- requiring
local authorities to develop a strategy to ensure toilets are publically
available in local communities.
Dr Ruth Hussey,
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, added:
“Wales was
the first country in the UK to vote in favour of a ban on smoking in public
places, which came into effect on April 2, 2007.
“That
legislation, seen at the time as controversial in many quarters, is now
considered to be one of the most successful public health
initiatives.
“On the
seventh anniversary of the smoking ban, it is symbolic that Wales is once again
at the forefront of a new set of radical proposals to improve public
health.”
The White Paper
consultation seeks the views of as wide a range of people as possible about
these proposals. The consultation will close on Tuesday June 24.
Links
Public
Health White Paper