Should people who smoke around young babies be prosecuted?

[fordfiesta]

Through my work i was required to visit a house where the grand parents look after their grand child most days of the week. Both of them smoke heavily (20 + a day) and often have the babies great Aunt visiting as well who also smokes. The house is really just a fog of smoke...... i am a smoker myself although i never smoke in the house or car (never did even before having my ds)and am trying hard not to be a hypocrite..... but when they tell me that the baby also has asthma i am amazed that they can be so utterly ignorant!!!!
Surely this should be seen as neglect and should be advertised as such by health professionals???
Really am not trying to be pompus and stuff but i just wanted to have a go at then and bang thier heads together!!! Surely there should be a law prohibiting it.....

No

lol expat - that was very short and to the point

Yes, I feel v strongly they should be prosecuted - just terrible to force a child to breathe cigarette smoke. Makes me so angry when I see people smoking in cars with children in them, I expect one day it will be illegal and we won't believe once upon a time people actually did it....

no

This is a can of worms.

When you say 'no' what are your reasons..... ?

yes
up against the wall with them, I say

I think it is sad that there are people who put their cravings for nicotine above the welfare of a child.

No to prosecution though; we are enough of a nanny state already.

Yes to better health education, and support for those who wish to kick the habit.

No,Not prosecuted.But maybe someone could explain health risks etc.It will never be made illegal,governments etc make too much money.
My dp grew up in a house with a dad who smoked and they also looked after his nephews.

no, for the reasons humphrey said.

I am not a smoker, I do not personally agree with smoking near children, but no.... I personally think it is unfair to smoke near children, but, it is still wrong to say this regarding prosecution of other parents.

are parents never to be allowed to make their own choices over their kiddies amymore????

'When you say 'no' what are your reasons..... ? '

No.

That's my reason.

I'm not here to justify them to strangers.

You asked the question, I reponded.

what would you give 'em, ten years? hard labour? a fine?

a fine

So even though it is probably physically harming the child and damaging their long term health it should not be an offence.....?

No because life is not fair and some kids will have idiots for parents and legislating won't prevent this.

it is a slippery slope, and where would you draw the line? prosecution for feeding children saturated fat? for not giving them five a day? for giving them a PSP rather than taking them to the park? it would open the floodgates

er, no. Get real

No.

But a leaflet through the door, explaining the horror that is asthma and the effects of smoking around babies, might not go amiss.

obese children being taken into care...

why is feeding them crap policed by SS and not if you smoke around them?

No

Shall we prosecute parents who feed their children the "wrong" things as well. Where does it stop ?

but Social Services are taking action over parents who don't feed their children the right things

Then what would be next - take children away from parents that smoke? or take drugs? Or drive to fast in their cars?