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Scottish Coalition on Tobacco calls on all political parties to introduce new robust tobacco control strategy for Scotland

26 July 2010

The Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT) today called on all of Scotland's political parties to include a commitment to a new tobacco control strategy for Scotland in their manifestos. Saying that the previous comprehensive strategy was now out of date and it was time for a robust new strategy suitable for Scotland's particular challenges and opportunities, Sheila Duffy, the chair of the coalition of eleven health and professional organisations, said:

"There is a now a clear need for a new comprehensive tobacco control strategy for Scotland. Therefore SCOT has written to all the major political parties asking them to make a manifesto commitment to introduce such a strategy within the first year of the new parliamentary term.

"That strategy should include the key aims of preventing young people from starting to smoke, encouraging smokers to quit, reducing exposure to second-hand smoke, and tackling health inequalities caused by smoking. It must set ambitious and achievable targets and be fully resourced to meet its aims.

"It is now six years since the publication of 'A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland', the first ever tobacco control action plan for Scotland and its twenty actions have now been reached, superseded, or surpassed. These have been very successful, highly supported, and are reaping health benefits for Scotland in terms of reduced smoking rates and increased health benefits.

"However, tobacco addiction is a deep-rooted public health problem in our country and despite clear in-roads being made, the harm caused by smoking and second-hand smoke within our society is still of major concern. We need to continue to improve our public health record and reduce the health inequalities caused by smoking.

"Smoking remains Scotland's biggest killer with 13,500 smoking attributable deaths every year. Smoking and tobacco use inflicts a significant health and economic cost to Scotland, disproportionately borne by the poorest members of society. It costs the economy £837 million each year and the NHS in Scotland an annual £409 million a year.

"The tobacco industry is made up of multi-national profit driven companies which aim to keep smokers buying their brands whilst recruiting new smokers to replace those who quit or die. This has a subsequent massive impact on our public health and our economy. Therefore it's vital that we continue to tackle tobacco, encourage smokers to quit and prevent young people taking the habit up. Special attention must also be paid to those areas where smoking rates remain high and increased efforts made to reach smokers and those who may start to smoke. This will pay long term dividends in reduced costs to society and will be hugely beneficial in making Scotland a healthier society and place to live and work.

"The other home nations of the UK already have, or are all currently working on, new tobacco control strategies as part of public health policy. Scotland needs to do the same and address the continuing need to reduce smoking and protect people from second-hand smoke. Scotland needs a new robust strategy which takes into account our own particular needs, challenges, and opportunities. "