Scotland CAN! (Cleaner Air Now!) was founded by ASH Scotland in May 2000 to campaign for legislation to restrict smoking in Scotland’s public places. The launch of Scotland CAN! followed the public announcement of an initiative which relied on a voluntary approach to controlling second-hand smoke (the Voluntary Charter), promoted by government and the hospitality trade.
At Scotland CAN!s high profile launch, ASH Scotland joined with concerned national charities like the British Medical Association, National Asthma Campaign and Children in Scotland, and unveiled the names of over 60 businesses, trade unions, football clubs, medical and children's charities which supported the campaign to restrict smoking in public places.
In November 2004 the Scotland CAN! group agreed to merge with SCCOT under the umbrella of the SCOT coalition. Scotland CAN! redefined its aims, to raise public awareness of the harmful health impacts of second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS), to lobby for legislation to increase protection from SHS and to work towards extending clean air environments in Scotland.
Scotland CAN! is the campaigning arm of SCOT, with a focus on issues relating to smoking in public places. The group supports comprehensive legislation to end smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland, and aims to work to publicise the harmful health impacts of tobacco smoke and to extend clean air environments.