Working for a tobacco-free Scotland
17 August 2011
Commenting on the publication of the 2009/10 Scottish Household Survey today [Wednesday 17 August] which shows that smoking among adults has reduced by 0.1 percentage point since the previous year to 24.2%, short of the Scottish Government National Indicator to reduce the percentage of adults (16+) who smoke to 22% by 2010, ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said:
“While it’s disappointing that the decline of smoking prevalence has fallen just short of the Government’s target of 22% by 2010, we need to remember just how far we have come. In 1999, nearly 31% of the adult population were smokers, so to be where we are today with less than one quarter of adults in Scotland smoking is still something that we can be proud of as a nation.
“Because smoking is still one of Scotland’s biggest killers, responsible for a quarter of all adult deaths, we need to keep up the pressure at both the local and national level to ensure the successes we’ve had over the last decade in reducing prevalence don’t stagnate.
“This is why we’re looking forward to the Government's plans for a new, comprehensive, evidence-based, tobacco control strategy that will lead Scotland towards a tobacco-free future and continue to drive down smoking rates.”
Sheila Duffy is available for ISDN interview. For further information please contact ASH Scotland on 0131 220 9469.
Action on Smoking & Health (Scotland) (ASH Scotland) is a registered Scottish charity (SC 010412) and a company limited by guarantee(Scottish company no 141711). The registered office is 8 Frederick Street, Edinburgh EH2 2HB.
© 2012 ASH Scotland
ASH Scotland acknowledges with thanks the support of the British Heart Foundation and the Scottish Government in developing our website.
