The factsheets use a number of references. The first is An Atlas of Tobacco Smoking in Scotland, which was co-authored by Health Scotland, Information Services Division Scotland and ASH Scotland, and uses data to create a statistical model, which enables estimates to be made of the number of smokers in each small area. The Atlas of Smoking in Scotland provides the most detailed statistics ever available about smoking in Scotland, including smoking prevalence and smoking related mortality – showing smoking is Scotland’s biggest single cause of premature death with thousands dying each year. The Atlas of Tobacco Smoking in Scotland shows a wide difference in the rates of smoking between the deprived and affluent areas of Scotland and the subsequent health effects of a higher prevalence of smoking. For example, within the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde area, where smoking is highest in Scotland, 34% of all deaths in the 35 to 69 age group are attributed to smoking. Many of those deaths will be premature and preventable. By tackling smoking and reducing the rates of those who smoke, we can improve the health of people, increase the life expectancy of our nation, and reduce the impact of smoking related disease on the NHS.
Also used to show the wide variety of prevention and cessation work being carried out across Scotland is ASH Scotland’s Mapping local tobacco control alliances in Scotland (pdf, 775kb). This report provides a full picture of the current status of tobacco control by health board area. It reveals that whereas legislation and policies have benefited some parts of the population others have yet to benefit from the same improvements in health, especially those in deprived areas. The mapping report, along with other evidence, indicates a health inequalities gap in Scotland which needs to be tackled. Tobacco affects all aspects of society from infants and children to older people and remains the number one public health issue in Scotland.
The other two sources of information used for these factsheets are ISD Scotland’s Smoking at booking – Scotland and the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) - National Report 2006. Both of these reports show that there is still much to be done to tackle the effects of smoking on children from in utero to teenage years and that prevention and cessation initiatives are vital. As a society we must find a way to reach teenagers and pregnant women and help prevent them from ever becoming addicted to tobacco, whilst also providing all possible support to those who want to quit. This is especially important in the communities that face the highest economic and social pressures and where smoking is most prevalent.
Return to smoking in Scotland
Scotland has the highest rate of young smokers in Britain so we must do all we can to help reduce the numbers of young people in Scotland taking up smoking. To this end ASH Scotland welcomes the recent rise in the minimum purchase age for tobacco from 16 to 18. However this measure cannot be effective and the restrictions fully upheld without the backing of a clear and comprehensive enforcement strategy. This includes the introduction of out-of-sight tobacco sales to remove tobacco advertising from the point of sale and a positive licensing scheme for the sale of tobacco. A licensing scheme could be used as both an active deterrent and to penalise persistent offenders. Retailers who consistently sell cigarettes to anyone under age would not only face fines, but could also have their license suspended and ultimately revoked for repeated violation.
For smokers, we must also ensure that cessation services are available and accessible to help those who want to quit to do so. However prevention remains the best way of ensuring people, young and old, do not start smoking and become addicted to tobacco and risk their health and the health of others around them so initiatives and effective measures to stopping people taking up smoking remain vital if we are to tackle Scotland's biggest cause of preventable deaths.
Return to smoking in Scotland