New UK smoking laws, which are expected to be embraced in devolved Wales, are falling short, according to Lydia Royce. She expresses her anticipation for the day when smoking in the street will be prohibited, a change she believes will happen in her lifetime. Royce acknowledges the sentiment of discontent that may arise from restrictions on smoking in pub beer gardens, a social setting where some individuals, especially the younger generation, engage in smoking. She also notes the potential loss of the social culture in smoking areas of nightclubs. Nevertheless, Royce speculates that the proposed law will likely designate specific areas for smoking, such as small shelters away from outdoor seating sections.
Reflecting on her own past experience with smoking during her teenage and university years, Royce emphasises how the habit was influenced by social environments and peer pressure. She underscores the need for stricter regulations on smoking in public spaces, advocating for designated smoking areas to curb the habit. Drawing comparisons with other nations like Mexico, Uruguay, and Nepal where smoking bans in public spaces are in effect, Royce asserts that the UK should strive to create a smoke-free generation. She highlights the prevalence of non-compliance with smoke-free zones in Wales, recounting instances of witnessing people smoking in prohibited areas like school grounds and children’s parks.
Royce underscores the health hazards and social implications of second-hand smoke, advocating for more stringent measures to stigmatise smoking in public. She points out the importance of considering the impact of smoking on non-smokers and promoting a smoke-free environment. As a mother, Royce articulates her desire to see smoking only permitted in designated areas and entirely banned from public spaces like beaches and parks. She envisions a future where walking down the street would not entail encountering smokers and hopes for a more effective approach in stigmatising smoking in public settings.
In conclusion, Royce calls for increased efforts to instil cultural shifts towards a smoke-free environment and urges for greater enforcement of smoking regulations in public spaces. She expresses optimism that measures aimed at creating a smoke-free generation will eventually prevail, leading to improved public health and cleaner environments for all.