Smoking mom enrages Jane
Last Friday, Jane witnessed a mom smoking in her car, kids in the back seat, and windows rolled up. Are you this local mom, because Jane is not impressed!
After Jane's show on Friday, she was sending a post-show voice note to her producer Simon when she saw what a mother was doing in front of her - and it made her furious!
Let me begin by saying that it is not my place to judge, to each their own after all. What did enrage me though was the fact that this lady was smoking with her two little kids in the back seat and to top it all, it happened in a confined area.
Read: More changes coming for South African smoking laws?
I was so irate on my way home on Friday after seeing a mom smoking in her car with two children in car chairs behind her. To make matters worse, she had all the windows closed but a tiny bit of her window open.
The fact is that South African smoking laws prohibit this action, making it illegal anyway.
No smoking in a car (even if it’s your own car) when one of the passengers is under 12 years. This is because children are negatively affected by tobacco smoking because their lungs are either still developing or too weak to handle that kind of environmental pollution
Mr T was driving and at one point I told him to follow her as I wanted to give her a piece of my mind. I mean really, what is she thinking?! I'm not a perfect mom by any means, but I certainly know lighting up with kids in the car is a huge no-no.
Read: Could E-Cigarettes be the solution to help quit smoking?
If talking on the phone gets you a fine, what does smoking in the car get you?
The fact is that children have growing lungs and should not be exposed to such harsh chemicals. Second-hand smoke is bad for anyone that inhales it, but is even worse for children as it is thought to create respiratory diseases and various forms of Cancer.
Listen below as Peter Ucko, Director of TAG (Tobacco Alcohol and Gambling Advisory Advocacy and Action Group), weighs in on Jane’s dilemma:
In case you didn't know, here are some smoking rules that we have to adhere to:
- If you own a restaurant, pub, bar or a company, you will be liable for a R50,000 fine if you breach the smoking laws.
- If you’re a smoker and you light up in a non-smoking zone, your fine is R500.
- You cannot smoke in partially-enclosed places (covered patios, verandas, balconies, walkways, and parking areas).
- You can’t smoke on premises used for commercial childcare activities, or for schooling or tutoring.
Read: Could smoking in movies influence young people to try it out?
In the coming weeks, the Tabacco Laws in South Africa are due to change and become even stricter.
What would you have done if you were in my shoes? Let me know by commenting below.