26 September 2006
As Scotland looks back over six months of smoke-free public places, ASH Scotland, the voluntary organisation that campaigned for the legislation, believes the law has been proven to be a tremendous success.
Maureen Moore, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland said,
"Smoke free public places are helping to protect everyone in Scotland from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. The smoking ban is also helping to encourage many smokers to try and beat their habit."The smoking ban has been a great success and I think everyone in Scotland should be proud of helping to make it work. This has been the public health triumph of a generation."
ASH Scotland annual meeting looks to the future
As Scotland moves on from the success of ending smoking in enclosed public places, many people are now asking "what next?" For ASH Scotland, there is still much to do in the fight against tobacco. Protecting young people and empowering them to choose not to become addicted to smoking is moving to the top of the agenda.
At ASH Scotland's annual meeting today in Edinburgh a distinguished panel of experts (1) will discuss new ways Scotland could reduce the prevalence of smoking, what the way forward might be now the smoking ban is in place and just how far we can go to create a truly smoke-free Scotland.
Maureen Moore, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland said,
"Every year 13,000 people in Scotland are dying because of tobacco. The tobacco industry needs to replace such losses by recruiting new smokers and new smokers are overwhelmingly young people. The majority of people that are long-term smokers become addicted when they are teenagers. ASH Scotland would like to see the debate in Scotland move from the dangers of second-hand smoke to protecting and educating young people."Scotland has made excellent progress against the damage caused by tobacco. Ending smoking in public places has been a great success. Now is the time to use that momentum to improve the ways in which we can break the cycle of addiction, disease and early death that tobacco causes in our country."
For more information and comment please call ASH Scotland on 0131 225 4725 or on 07773 351878
Notes to Editors
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