Response from The
Smokefree Bristol Alliance
In support of ASH Wales, the
Smokefree Bristol Alliance would like to offer the following
submission in relation to the proposed changes to the Smokefree
Legislation in Bristol:
- One of the key aims of the
smokefree legislation was to protect workers from the harm caused
by breathing in secondhand smoke. Evidence has shown that it
is as harmful as smoking cigarettes especially when people are
subjected to it over extended periods of time in enclosed spaces,
for example pub employees, etc. Actors within the
entertainment industry are no exception, and it is unfair to allow
others to inflict their secondhand smoke on those who wish to
remain smokefree.
- There are many young actors
within the entertainment industry, and they have a right to be
protected from harm whilst at work and in their personal
lives. Children’s rights will be ignored if this change
to the smokefree legislation is put through, and they are less
likely to be heard if they voice an opinion. In addition to
which the entertainment industry will be ignoring UNICEF’s
Convention on the rights of the Child. There is also evidence
to show that young people are particularly impressionable to
smoking in films as it is seen as glamorous and exciting.
There is never a true portrayal of how these ‘smoking’
characters might die, slowly and painfully with a poor quality of
life.
- If smoking is deemed to be
absolutely essential to the film or programme there are safer
alternatives that are now very readily available that look and act
like cigarettes, such as the e-cigarette. Although many
people believe that characterisation is far more effective than the
use of props like cigarettes.
I sincerely hope that the
Welsh Assembly Government consider these changes very seriously, as
we believe the proposed changes are unnecessary and
dangerous.
Yours sincerely,
Wendy