Darren Daniel from Carmarthenshire can still remember the first time he held a cigarette. He was 12 years …
Smoke-Free Playgrounds
In 2017, smoking in public playgrounds was banned in Wales under the Public Health Wales Act, a vital step in protecting children from second-hand smoke and reshaping attitudes towards tobacco use in family-friendly spaces.
What's The Issue?
Playgrounds are places where children play, grow, and explore. Allowing smoking in these areas exposes young people to second-hand smoke and normalizes smoking behavior. Cigarette butts and tobacco-related litter also pose significant environmental hazards and risks to children who may ingest them.
Why It Matters?
Protecting Children’s Health
Children’s lungs are still developing, making them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Even brief exposure in outdoor areas can be damaging to their respiratory systems and overall health.
Role Model
Seeing adults smoke in playgrounds normalises smoking for children, increasing the likelihood that they may pick up the habit in the future. Preventing this exposure helps to change perceptions and reduce smoking uptake among young people.
Environmental Impact
Cigarette butts, packaging, and other tobacco-related litter take years to degrade, harming wildlife and costing councils money to clean. Smokefree playgrounds help to create cleaner, safer environments for everyone.
Regulation Changes
In 2017, the Welsh Government passed the Public Health Wales Act, making it illegal to smoke in public playgrounds. This includes:
Areas specifically designed for children’s play with marked boundaries.
Prohibiting smoking within five meters of equipment in open playgrounds.
These measures, implemented fully by 2021, align with Wales’ commitment to reducing tobacco-related harm.
Anglesey: Leading the Way
In 2013, Anglesey council became one of the first local authorities in Wales to implement a smokefree initiative covering playgrounds, leisure center grounds, and school entrances. This pioneering move aimed to protect children from second-hand smoke and reduce litter in family-friendly spaces.
- Community Support: Members of the public played a key role in enforcing the policy, creating a culture of respect and compliance.
- Impact: Feedback from families highlighted cleaner playgrounds and increased awareness about the harmful effects of smoking near children.
Caerphilly: Youth-Driven Change
The Caerphilly Youth Forum spearheaded the “Protect Our Parks” project, mobilizing young people to raise awareness and tackle smoking in playgrounds.
Youth Led: A youth-led survey identified smoking and litter as key concerns in local parks. The forum developed educational materials and signage to promote smokefree policies.
Results: Young people reported increased pride in their parks, with a noticeable reduction in smoking-related litter.
Denbighshire: Community Collaboration
In 2013, Ruthin’s Cae Ddol play area became Denbighshire’s first official smokefree playground. The initiative, led by Denbighshire County Council and Public Health Wales, involved extensive community engagement.
School Involvement: Over 340 local primary and secondary school students participated in a competition to design smokefree signage. The winning design, created by Ceri from Ysgol Pen Barras, is now displayed across 85 playgrounds in the county.
Launch Event: On No Smoking Day 2013, the playground was officially declared smokefree, with local families and officials celebrating the milestone.
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