Scotland has taken radical action to stub out smoking - from the 2006 ban on smoking in public places to the current plans to end tobacco displays in shops and ban sales from vending machines.
These bold measures are necessary because of the clear health risks associated with smoking.
Each year smoking:
- kills around 13,500 Scots (one in five of all deaths)
- is responsible for around 33,500 hospital admissions
- costs the NHS in Scotland around £400 million to treat smoking-related illness.
What's happening now?
Between 27 April and 20 July 2010, the Scottish Government consulted on draft regulations following on from the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010. The draft regulations include measures aimed at making tobacco less attractive and less available to under 18s. The Scottish Government has analysed the consultation comments and published a response on Sections 2 to 5 on 23 November 2010. The response to Section 1 was published on 18 January 2012.
The final Display of Tobacco and Prices Regulations were announced in January 2012. A revised Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment has also been prepared for these.
Packaging
The Scottish Government has worked with the Department of Health and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland to launch a consultation on the standardised packaging of tobacco products.
We seek feedback on whether there might be public health benefits from the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging in addition to policies currently in place, including legislation ending the permanent display of tobacco products by retailers. We also wish to understand what other effects there may be should standardised tobacco packaging be introduced.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks, from 16 April 2012 to 10 July 2012 and can be accessed here:
http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/tobacco/standardised-packaging-of-tobacco-products/consult_view
Responses are invited from any interested person, business or organisation.
What's already happened?
The Scottish Government consulted in 2009 on achieving smoke-free mental health services in Scotland. In March 2010 the Minister for Public Health and Sport announced that as a result of the consultation new guidance is being prepared to help mental health service providers in Scotland take the next steps towards banning smoking. Guidance is due to be published in Spring 2011. View an analysis of consultation responses.
The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 received overwhelming support from the Scottish Parliament this year, and was passed with 108 votes in favour to 15 against on 27th January 2010. The Act will see the end of tobacco displays in shops and a ban of tobacco sales from vending machines. For more information click on the Act in the navigation panel on the left of this page.
On October 1, 2007, the minimum age for buying cigarettes was raised from 16 to 18.
From March 26, 2006 it became illegal to smoke in most indoor places other than private homes. This includes restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, theatres, bingo halls, church halls, sports centres, shopping centres, public transport, schools, hospitals and all clubs. It also covers almost all workplaces, including lorries and vans.
There are few exemptions to the law. These include residential accommodation, designated rooms in adult care homes and psychiatric hospitals and units and designated hotel bedrooms.
Link to Smoke-free Legislation