ASH Scotland is the leading voluntary organisation campaigning for effective tobacco control legislation. For almost 30 years, ASH Scotland has played a key role in raising awareness about tobacco use and its harmful effects and has contributed to the implementation of effective public health policies to help smokers to quit and to protect children from tobacco. Our main activities centre on an expert information service, parliamentary lobbying, campaigning, action-based projects and taking forward the Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) was set up in 1971 by the Royal College of Physicians London following the publication of two major reports: Smoking and Health (1962) which warned the general public about the harmful effects of smoking for the first time and Smoking & Health Now (1971). ASH Scotland was set up in 1973 under the auspices of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. It became a separate national organisation in 1993.
ASH Scotland campaigns for the implementation of effective tobacco prevention and cessation strategies, to raise awareness of nicotine as an addictive substance and to regulate the activities and products of the tobacco industry. Policy priorities include underage sales of tobacco, a ban on tobacco advertising, restrictions on smoking in public places and tobacco smuggling. One of our main aims is to ensure that effective support services are in place to help the 67% of Scottish smokers who want to quit.
ASH Scotland believes that the most effective way to take forward the tobacco control agenda in Scotland is to work in partnership with other public health agencies, voluntary organisations and statutory bodies. ASH Scotland was instrumental in setting up the Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT) which successfully campaigned for legislation to restrict smoking in public places.
There is more information about ASH Scotland in the about us section
View recent press releases