Playgrounds in Wales must now be smoke-free – by law
A new law is now in place that requires playgrounds in Wales to be smoke-free.
On March 1 Wales became the first country in the UK to make it illegal to smoke not only in playgrounds but also all school grounds and outdoor care settings for children.
Guidance from the Welsh Government outlines what those organisations and individuals responsible for the smoke-free settings need to do to enforce the legislation. The manager or person responsible for the setting must take reasonable steps to stop a person who is smoking there.
‘Strong public support to restrict smoking where children are present’
Displaying ‘No Smoking’ signs is required in playgrounds and school grounds, although signs do not have to be displayed in outdoor care settings. Enforcement of this legislation will be through local authorities who have the powers to issue fixed-penalty notices.
Vaughan Gething, the Health Minister in Wales, said: “There is strong public support to restrict smoking where children are likely to be present. We will continue to take steps to de-normalise this habit and provide a very clear message for children. The evidence that smoking is harmful and damaging is clear cut and our message must be too.”
