Smoke-free success: ASH Scotland presents the Scottish experience (pdf, 1.16MB)
This 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
You may also like to read The Unwelcome Guest, a report which shows how the campaign to go smoke-free was won, and how the tobacco industry tried everything it could to stop smoke-free legislation being made.
Numbers in brackets relate to the paragraph numbers
Scotland leads
Scotland going smoke-free marked a defining moment in Scottish devolution and made Scotland the leader across the UK in tackling the issue of tobacco harm caused by second-hand smoke. The legislation began at 06.00 Sunday 26 March 2006.
Legal action
Legal action threatened by the Tobacco Manufacturers Association and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association against the legislation failed to materialise. Legal action started by the Swallow Group and licensee Don Lawson was dropped. This action based on human rights legislation was unlikely to have succeeded as the new law had been carefully scrutinised for compliance (2).
Reducing smoking
New targets to reduce smoking were announced by the Scottish Executive in December 2005 after existing targets were met early. The aim is now to reduce the numbers of adults who smoke by 186,500 (22%) by 2010, with over 30,000 (37%) of these to be smokers in deprived areas where prevalence is above average (8).
Public opinion
In March an opinion poll commissioned by Cancer Research UK found that 84% of Scots aged 18-24 believed that a smoke-free Scotland was something to be proud of. A Scottish Sun survey showed 47% of Scots smokers thought the legislation would make them more likely to quit (13).
Three months after legislation, a survey commission by the Executive found 61% support for the new law, with 73% believing the law had been ‘very successful’ or ‘successful’. 35% of smokers believed the new law had helped them reduce the amount they smoked (24.1). Another survey published at the same time form Cancer Research UK found that 24% of respondents were more likely to visit pubs and bars because of the law with only 10% saying they would visit less (24.2).
Even a poll by smoking rights group Forest published in November 2006 showed 63% believed legislation was ‘about right’ (33.1).
Quitting
NHS Smokeline, the NHS Health Scotland telephone quit support line received, 450 calls each day in the first three days following implementation of the ban, instead of its normal 100 calls (17). After three months, both Grampian and Fife reported an increase in those accessing smoking cessation services (26).
Compliance
After three months of the ban, compliance in not allowing smoking on the premises was running at 99.4% and display requirements was running at 73.7% (23.1).
Trade
A survey of just 7.3% of licensed premises by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association in July 2006 reported a 10.8% decrease in wet sales and 2.6% decrease in food sales alongside a drop in regulars and new visitors. Restaurants reported a 39% increase in food sales and 21% in drinks. This contrasted with other surveys and profit figures showing the ban had had little effect. The SLTA in February 2005 had predicted the smoking ban would lead to the licensed trade losing £86 million in annual profits and 2,300 jobs in the industry (28.4).
Health implications
In October 2006, an assessment of the health of 77 bar workers before and after legislation, by Dundee researchers, found significant improvements in respiratory symptoms and lung functions. The proportion of staff showing health-related symptoms attributable to cigarette smoke fell from 80% to 53% in two months (29.1). A survey of bar staff found 92% said their workplaces were healthier post legislation and 78% believed their long term health would benefit (29.3).
Air quality
A study comparing second-hand smoke levels in Scottish pubs pre and post legislation was published to coincide with the first year anniversary of the public places smoking ban and found levels were reduced by an average 86% with indoor air quality comparable to outdoor levels (35.2).
Tobacco continuing health hazard
Tobacco still poses a huge hazard to Scotland’s health with approximately 35 smokers in Scotland dying every day from a tobacco related disease and one in five babies born to a mother who smoked during early pregnancy (36.1). ASH Scotland, along with other organisations, including the BMA, have called for further action to reduce the harm caused by tobacco, with 70% of doctors believing it to still to be most important public health issue in Scotland (36.4).
Co-operation
Other countries can learn lessons from Scotland’s experience. The importance of alliances and coalitions and keeping interested parties engaged and motivated is crucial. Effective communication about the health benefits of a smoking ban is vital and can help counter the tobacco industry and its allies false and distorted arguments (36.13).