Smokos banned in Scotland

Mar 27 2006

A widespread ban on smoking came into action in Scotland on Sunday with relatively few problems.

The ban makes Scotland, with a population of five million, the first region in Britain where pubs, restaurants and workplaces are now smoke-free, and follows the example set by Ireland, which imposed the world's first nation-wide smoking ban in 2004.

Scotland’s new anti-smoking enforcement officers, drawn from environmental health departments, were out and about for the first time in pubs across the country ensuring no one was breaking the new law.

They sensibly adopted a 'softly-softly' approach, and concentrated on issuing advice rather than fines.

The ban is part of an effort to tackle the country's poor public health record and experts are optimistic that it will result in a decrease in the 1,000 deaths a year in Scotland caused by passive smoking.

In an attempt to alter Scotland's"sick man of Europe" nickname, no smoking signs have been posted to enforce the measure, and are part of a broader scheme to change the heavy drinking and smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise lifestyle which has earned Scotland its poor reputation.

It is estimated that about 30 percent of people in Scotland smoke, a higher rate than the rest of Britain, and Scots also have lower life expectancy.

First Minister Jack McConnell, head of Scotland's government, says they mean to change the unhealthy reputation and the poor record of heart disease, cancer and strokes.

If public surveys are anything to go on more than 60 percent of Scots support the ban, which applies to all enclosed public spaces; but only a quarter of smokers support the ban.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to impose similar bans next year.

Critics of the ban query the evidence on passive smoking and have decried the measure as an attack on individual freedom and the traditional working class lifestyle of drinking and smoking.

Some in the Scottish hospitality trade are concerned that the measure may drive smoking customers away and warned that it could lose 142 pubs and 2,500 jobs; but many workers have welcomed the ban.

Peter Terry, chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, says Scotland has taken "a bold and politically courageous step".

However the smokers’ lobby group Forest, has condemned the Scottish Executive and accused it of misleading the public over the health impact and economic costs of the ban.