Commenting on the Department of Health’s Tobacco Strategy announced today [1 February 2010], which includes a commitment to increase investment to drive down tobacco smuggling, ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said
“The Westminster Government has committed to the continuing need for progressive tobacco control to tackle smoking which causes so much harm to our public health. They have set ambitious yet achievable targets which will benefit the health of the people of England.
“At a UK level, the strategy also includes increasing resources to tackle the smuggling of cigarettes. This is important, and I would like to see much more joined up work between the agencies involved in this so we can crack down hard on those selling illicit cigarettes in Scottish communities.
“Scotland’s policy makers must also now look to the next steps for Scotland. Our current tobacco plan outlined in ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ in 2004 is coming to an end. We need a new strategy to take us through the new decade, identifying what action needs to be taken to reduce tobacco addiction and prevent smoking uptake in Scotland. With 13,500 people dying of smoking in Scotland every year, and 114,000 throughout the UK, the need to tackle our biggest preventable killer remains urgent and imperative.”
Sheila Duffy is available for interview via ISDN.
For further information please contact ASH Scotland on 0131 225 4725.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
1. Action on Smoking & Health (Scotland) (ASH Scotland) is an independent Scottish charity working in partnership to protect people from the harm caused by tobacco. Registered Scottish charity number SC 010412.
2. A Smokefree Future. A comprehensive tobacco control strategy for England. Department of Health, 2010