Working for a tobacco-free Scotland
21 September 2011
In response to Finance Secretary John Swinney’s announcement this afternoon [Wednesday 21 September] of a new public health levy through business rate supplement payable by large retailers of tobacco and alcohol from April 2012, ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy, said:
“It’s good to see the Scottish Government recognising and committing to the importance of preventative spending, even in difficult financial times. Prevention is better than cure, and in the long-term, tobacco use and the illness it causes costs Scotland over £1 billion annually. Tackling tobacco now is a worthwhile investment in Scotland’s future and necessary to protect our children.
“I’d also like to see the tobacco industry held more financially accountable for the harm their product does. This is the only freely available product that kills its consumers when used exactly as the manufacturer intends. Imperial Tobacco, just one of the major tobacco companies operating in the UK, posted £2,528 million in operating profits last year. Scotland has again shown leadership in acting to curb the harm from this lethal and addictive product and to invest in our health.”
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.
