This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Real cost of smoking is human life
08/02/2005
Lifting the smoke blanket from our pubs, clubs and
restaurants will bring a priceless benefit, Chief Medical
Officer Mac Armstrong said today.
Outlining the positive health benefits likely to
flow from Executive's initiative on smoking in enclosed
public places, the CMO continued:
"The legislation now going before Parliament will bring
far and away the most important improvement in our health
in a generation. I can't stress that highly enough.
"There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about
businesses losing money and profits being hit.
"But the bottom line here isn't financial at all. It's
human. And the real benefit is priceless.
"Like every doctor and nurse, I have seen over my career
the real toll of smoking. Countless families deprived of a
loved one - a mother or father and those who never live
long enough to see the smiles of their grandchildren.
"Smoking has wreaked a terrible toll in Scotland. It
still does - 35 real people every day who die before their
time because of smoking-related diseases. That's a 35 a day
habit we've got to start kicking.
"I have wanted to see this happen for a very long time
and I'm very proud that the legislation has been published
during my time as Chief Medical Officer.
"I'm delighted that the Executive has had the courage to
take this on and that so many politicians from all
perspectives have had the guts to back it. There can be no
better legacy they can leave for our children.
"The case for reducing smoking and exposure to second
hand smoke to improve health is indisputable.
"Smoking is linked with all manner of fatal diseases
including lung cancer and chronic bronchitis, heart disease
and vascular disease, and there is crystal clear evidence
that second hand smoke is also a killer.
"Up to 2000 lives could be saved every year by ending
smoking in enclosed public places. And let's not forget the
substantial knock-on effect which will see fewer people
smoking and people smoking less."
The
Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill was
introduced on December 17 and will introduce a ban on
smoking in enclosed public places.
Its provisions include:
- Creating an offence of permitting others to smoke
in no-smoking premises
- Creating an offence of smoking in no-smoking
premises
- Creating an offence of failing to display warning
notices in no-smoking premises
- Setting out the powers of enforcement officers to
enter no-smoking premises
- Creating an offence of failing to give their name
and address on request by an enforcement officer
The Bill lists the kind of premises which are capable of
being prescribed as "no-smoking" under the regulations.
These are premises which are wholly enclosed and
- to which the public or a section of the public has
access
- which are being used wholly or mainly as a place of
work by persons who are employees
- which are being used by and for the purposes of a
club or other unincorporated association
- which are being used wholly or mainly for the
provision of education, health or care services
Any exemptions will be agreed and defined within
regulations following discussions with interested parties -
for example those who run hospices and long term care
homes.