The legislation stated that cigars, pipes and cigarettes must be lit at least 25 feet away from the tenant’s public housing building. Vaping will still be allowed.
Within the past 2 months, this discussion has also surfaced in Scotland with SNP ministers considering tobacco-free social housing. Ministers stated “We will explore with local authorities and housing associations the idea of tobacco-free clauses in tenancy agreements and smoke-free housing alternatives being offered in social housing.” This comes amid a number of other recent Scottish initiatives to reduce smoking rates, including hospital smoking bans, on the back of Scotland’s latest tobacco-control plan.
In May last year, a similar proposal was discussed for council houses within England. The initiative was proposed to help reduce the threat of passive smoking. At the time, Dr John Middleton said “Housing associations and councils are looking at smoke-free housing buildings. Where children are involved I think there is a real case for it.”
Nevertheless, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Care recently said: “There are no plans to introduce a ban on smoking in the home.”
While some experts believe this potential policy could have a positive effect on smoking rates and help to reduce the danger of passive smoking, it also has its critics. Some believe that this ban would discriminate against those who cannot to buy their own homes. Another critique is the feasibility of enforcing the rules.
As many anti-smoking experts have found in recent times, some of the most effective stop smoking methods are those that empower smokers and giving them the tools and support to make the decision to quit themselves.
This may include vaping support for those who are opposed to leaving their home for a cigarette. There is no evidence to support any threat of passive vaping so switching to vaping could help to reduce the risk of passive smoking in social housing.
Moreover, it could help also have a positive effect on smoking rates. Importantly, this support would be targeted towards smokers in underprivileged areas, an initiative which anti-smoking campaigners are keen to address due to the imbalance in smoking rates between socio-economic classes.
Do you think council house tenants be allowed to smoke in their homes? Let us know in the comments below.