Heart Foundation welcomes City of Vincent’s proposal to ban smoking in town centres

The Heart Foundation has welcomed a proposal by City of Vincent Council to ban smoking in town centres by 2025.

The proposal forms part of Council’s draft “Public Health Plan 2020-2025,” which was tabled at Council Briefing Session last Tuesday (11 August 2020).

The plan includes a target to create smoke-free town centres by 2025, noting this would limit community exposure to second-hand smoke; help change attitudes towards smoking; and minimise cigarette-butt littering. According to the draft plan, around eight per cent of City of Vincent residents smoke tobacco.

Heart Foundation CEO WA, Sarah Fordham, congratulated City of Vincent Council for prioritising a smoke-free environment. “This is a positive proposal from the City of Vincent, and I encourage Council to endorse it for the sake of residents’ heart health,” Ms Fordham said.

“Tobacco use is a leading cause of heart disease, which continues to be the single leading cause of death in Australia. Smokers not only have more heart attacks, strokes and angina than non-smokers, but also at a younger age. Second-hand smoke is a problem, too. Breathing in second-hand smoke damages your arteries, just like in a person who smokes.

“Smoking bans reduce involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke, support ex-smokers, create a cleaner environment, and promote a positive health message. Many councils around Western Australia have already introduced varying levels of smoking bans. We hope the City of Vincent will do the same and vote in favour of this important proposal.”

Ms Fordham said she is pleased to see Council’s draft plan addresses other contributors to good heart health, including healthy eating and physical activity.

The City of Vincent’s “Public Health Plan 2020-2025” will be open for public consultation before Council votes on it in October.