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Smoking in Public Places
A Consultation on Reducing Exposure to Second Hand Smoke
Report of a Youth Consultation
PART 4
WHAT WAS THE CONCLUSION?
The range of views, comments and concerns expressed in this report reflects the attitude of young people in Scotland towards this emotive issue. It is notable that there was a huge amount of young people involved in the consultation, demonstrating just how strongly many young people feel about it.
National Level
At national level the consultation received a fantastic response to the online survey which ran on the Loud + Clear section of the Young Scot website, with young people from a wide geographical spread completing the survey.
Young people were clearly of the opinion that further action is required to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, and were largely in favour of banning smoking in public places. The response was strong and shows that young people are extremely worried about the negative impacts of smoking on their health. The findings showed empathy with people who are addicted to smoking, with most young people in favour of having some places where smoking is allowed.
If a law was not introduced, young people were largely in favour of providing further information and setting up incentive schemes to encourage businesses to become smoke-free or set up smoke-free areas. The strength of feeling on the topic was demonstrated by the support for enforcing such conditions by imposing fines and taxation on businesses that do not encourage such initiatives.
Young people provided a great deal of ideas and suggestions, with some clear themes emerging. The most notable suggestions, supported by a number of respondents, included banning smoking near children, raising the price of cigarettes, and banning smoking altogether.
Local Level
The consultation received a substantial response in the four local authority areas that ran in-depth consultations with young people. The main conclusions are very close to those of the national level activity, with some interesting additional comments and ideas.
Dundee
The vast majority of young people in Dundee are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places and further action to reduce the affects of second-hand smoke. Similarly to the national response, most young people believe there should still be some places where smoking is allowed.
There was a range of comments and suggestions, again mentioning the possibility of incentive schemes to encourage businesses to go smoke-free. There was also support for raising the age limit for buying tobacco, and a number of comments calling for more information and high profile campaigns highlighting the danger of smoking.
Highland
Young people in Highland largely believe that further action needs to be taken to reduce people's exposure to second-hand smoke, but just over half are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places. This figure is much lower than other areas, with a great deal of respondents concerned about the needs of smokers.
In line with other areas, the majority of respondents believe that there should be places where smoking is allowed. Similarly to other areas, a number of people suggested incentive schemes for businesses or financial penalties businesses provide smoke-free areas. Comments from young people in Highland also suggested incentives for businesses to improve ventilation to reduce second-hand smoke.
North Ayrshire
The consultation in North Ayrshire generated a lot of interest amongst young people across the region, with many young people feeling very strongly on this issue.
Similarly to the results in other areas, over two thirds of young people in North Ayrshire were in favour of banning smoking either in all indoor places, or in the workplace, restaurants, malls and bars.
Dumfries and Galloway
The overall view of young people in Dumfries and Galloway is that there should be a ban on smoking in public places, though the opinion was more split than in other areas. Most young people are aware of the health implications of second-hand smoke and feel that they no longer want their health to suffer.
There was a range of comments made by young people during the consultation, with ideas including government grants to businesses to encourage them to go smoke-free, and greater support to help smokers to quit.
Overall Conclusions
Taking into account the feedback from young people at national level and across the four local authority areas who participated, the following key conclusions are evident.
64%* of young people in Scotland believe smoking in public places should be banned.
75%* of young people in Scotland believe more needs to be done to reduce the affects of second-hand smoke.
66%* of young people in Scotland believe that there should be some places where smoking is allowed.
Many young people in Scotland have strong views on the issue of smoking and the negative affects on their health.
Many young people in Scotland believe that the government should provide financial incentives to encourage businesses to become smoke-free or to provide smoke-free areas, and fine businesses that do not take such steps.
Many young people in Scotland believe that more information, and support should be provided to highlight the dangers of smoking, and help people to quit.
*For accuracy please note that this figure is calculated using the results of fully completed surveys, and not the results from every response collected during the consultation, as not all data could be collated into one figure.
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