31 May 2007
To mark World No Tobacco Day 2007, ASH Scotland has published ‘Smoke-Free Success: ASH Scotland Presents the Scottish Experience’, a comprehensive and detailed report which documents Scotland’s successful move to bring in a ban on smoking in public places, the lessons that other countries can learn, and the beginning “of a new and healthier Scotland”.
Commenting on its publication, ASH Scotland Chief Executive, Maureen Moore said:
“The World Health Organisation started World No Tobacco Day to highlight to the public the dangers of using tobacco and inform people about what they can do to tackle smoking. This year’s theme is smoke-free environments and WHO have called for a complete ban on smoking in all workplaces to help prevent the 650 million world wide deaths from tobacco use. I can think of no better way of marking this day than by highlighting the successes of Scotland’s smoke-free legislation.“’Smoke-free Success’ is an extensive document which shows that the smoke-free public places law has been hugely successful in Scotland, with compliance always staying above 95%, air quality in bars nearly reaching that of outdoor air with an 86% reduction in second hand smoke, and reported improvements in the health of those who previously worked in smoky atmospheres. The biggest accomplishment of going smoke-free is that we now have effective protection against second hand smoke. The new law has also been used by smokers as an opportunity to seek support and advice about quitting. With 70% of smokers wanting to stop, and an expansion in cessation services, there has never been a better time to quit smoking and access support to help you do so.
“Scotland has led the way, not just in the UK but across Europe in bringing forward a comprehensive and effective ban on smoking in public places which is helping protect the health of those who live and visit Scotland. Our country will feel the benefit of the reduction in exposure to second-hand smoke that going smoke-free has brought about. However the work does not stop here and we must continue to tackle the health hazards caused by smoking by helping existing smokers to quit and preventing future generations from starting to smoke. ASH Scotland will continue to work with parliamentarians, councillors, the NHS and others to do this by highlighting three particular areas that need action.
“First, stopping our future generations smoking. ASH Scotland would like to see an increase in the purchase age for tobacco to 18 in line with that of alcohol and for this to be backed by effective enforcement measures including tobacco licensing.
“Second reducing smoking by further investment in smoking cessation support especially in communities that face the highest economic and social pressures. There is already great cessation work going on in Scotland but for this to continue and to be rolled out across the country, an increase in support from government in funding and policy is needed.
“Finally, let’s bring in under the counter tobacco sales which would stop tobacco companies promoting and marketing their brands at the point of sale to young people and to those smokers who want to stop. A recent US study found that tobacco display advertising appeared to be associated with teen smoking and that beginning to smoke at a young age also led to smoking more and an increased risk of associated health problems. The researchers predicted that if stores did not have advertising “there would be a relative decline of about 13% in current established smokers” [3]“Tobacco is a uniquely dangerous and addictive substance and doctors agree that it remains the number one risk to public health. Scotland’s brave move to go smoke-free is the beginning of a new and healthier Scotland but we cannot be complacent when much more needs to be done. We have started the journey to get rid of Scotland’s tag of the ‘sick man of Europe’, and that is in itself a major success story for Scotland”.
Cancer Research UK who provided a grant to fund the production of ‘Smoke-Free Success’ welcomed the report. Commenting, Jean King, Cancer Research UK's Director of Tobacco Control, said:
"Going smoke free has been a great success in Scotland and will undoubtedly save tens of thousands of lives. But, while an important first step, protecting people from the dangers of second-hand smoke is only one of a number of measures needed to reduce tobacco's enormous death toll.
"With an estimated 1.4 million smokers - half of whom will die of a smoking related disease - we need the Scottish Executive's continued commitment to reduce the number of people who smoke and making smoking less appealing to young people. Greater regulation of products containing tobacco and nicotine is needed, including measures to control their price, promotion and availability."
‘Smoke-Free Success’ continues the story of Scotland’s ban on smoking in public places from where the 2006 report ‘The Unwelcome Guest’ left off. The report highlights the success of the legislation in terms of its impact on the health of our nation, compliance, and the consequences for industry, as well as discussing how communication and coalition has helped defeat the tobacco industry which has continually tried to undermine the legislation. Copies will be available online at www.ashscotland.org.uk from 31 May. PDFs and hard copies are available on request.
ENDS
Contact: Jeanette Campbell, Communications Officer Tel: 0131 220 9466 / 0777 6142299.
Notes to editors
1. Scotland's Smoke-free Success (1.16mb) is available to download in pdf format as is The Unwelcome Guest (292kb) - or read the executive summary.
2. Dr Rachel Harrison, writer of ‘Smoke-free Success’ is available for interview. Please contact Jeanette Campbell to arrange.
3. Sandy, S.J., et al. The impact of retail cigarette marketing practices on youth smoking uptake. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine [online] 161 (5): pp.440-445, 2007. Available from: http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/161/5/440 [accessed 11/507].
4. Health Scotland is currently coordinating a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the smoking legislation. The findings will be showcased at an international conference in Edinburgh in September. For more info visit www.smokefreeconference07.com.
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