back
  • Home
  • About us
    back
    • About us
    • Our organisational strategy 2018 to 2021
    • Annual report
    • Our people
      back
      • Our people
      • Sheila Duffy
      • Mary Cuthbert OBE
      • Professor Keith Fox
    • Excluding the tobacco industry
    • Contact us
  • What we do
    back
    • What we do
    • Providing information on tobacco, health and inequality
      back
      • Providing information on tobacco, health and inequality
      • Covid-19 and smoking research
      • Monthly research digest
        back
        • Monthly research digest
        • December 2018 - January 2019
        • Research digest January 2020
        • Research digest February 2020
        • Research digest March 2020
        • Research digest April 2020
        • Research digest May 2020
        • Research digest June 2020
        • Research digest July 2020
        • Research digest August 2020
        • Research digest September 2020
        • Research digest October 2020
        • Research digest November 2020
        • Research digest December 2020
      • Key topics
        back
        • Key topics
        • Economics
        • Inequalities
        • Stopping smoking
        • Second-hand smoke
        • Tobacco control legislation in Scotland
          back
          • Tobacco control legislation in Scotland
          • Tobacco Products Directive
        • Illicit tobacco
        • Tobacco industry interference
        • Tobacco use in pregnancy
        • Global tobacco control
        • Tobacco endgames
      • Briefings
      • Statistics
      • Tobacco and health
      • Information Service
      • Viewpoints
      • Fast facts
    • Engaging children, young people and families
      back
      • Engaging children, young people and families
      • Youth work resources
      • Tobacco-free schools resources
        back
        • Tobacco-free schools resources
        • NHS Lothian: Tobacco-free Schools Project
      • Smoke-free and clean air campuses
      • Reducing exposure to second-hand smoke in the home
      • Resources for parents and carers
    • Networking and the Scottish Tobacco-free Alliance
      back
      • Networking and the Scottish Tobacco-free Alliance
      • STA Membership
      • STA Governance and Planning
      • STA Working Groups
        back
        • STA Working Groups
        • Changing tobacco supply culture
      • ASH Scotland and STA Meetings and Events
      • STA Publications
    • Campaigning to improve health and well-being
      back
      • Campaigning to improve health and well-being
      • Advertising can help people quit smoking
      • Tackling illicit tobacco
      • Electronic cigarettes
      • Scottish Coalition On Tobacco (SCOT)
      • Improving Scotland’s Health: 2021 and Beyond Cross-Party Group
      • Policy reports and previous campaigns
        back
        • Policy reports and previous campaigns
        • Standardised (plain) packaging
        • Scottish Parliament Election Manifesto, 2016
        • The economic benefits of reducing smoking
      • Tackling plastic cigarette filters
      • Non-Communicable Disease Prevention
    • Reducing health inequalities
      back
      • Reducing health inequalities
      • Raising the issue of smoking with pharmacy clients
      • Raising the issue of smoking in money advice settings
      • Cashtray - Credit Union pilot
      • Costs of smoking
    • Addressing smoking and mental health
  • What you can do
    back
    • What you can do
    • Join the Scottish Tobacco-free Alliance
    • Tobacco awareness raising sessions
    • Ask us a question
    • Sign up to receive our free montly bulletin
    • Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation
      back
      • Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation
      • Sign the Charter
        back
        • Sign the Charter
        • Dental Practices
        • Optical Practices
        • Charter Pharmacy
      • Charter Supporters
      • Tobacco-Free Generation Awards
        back
        • Tobacco-Free Generation Awards
        • Charter Awards 2016
        • Charter Awards 2018
        • Charter Awards 2019
        • Charter Awards 2017
      • Charter Highlights
      • Charter Champions
        back
        • Charter Champions
        • Charter Champion: Mary Ross-Davie
        • Charter Champion: Bruce Adamson
        • Charter Champion: Jackie Brock
        • Charter Champion: Ian McLaughlan
      • Charter Resources
        back
        • Charter Resources
        • Charter Image Library
        • Smoke-free Play
          back
          • Smoke-free Play
          • Smoke-free Play Signage
  • Training and services
  • News & events
    back
    • News & events
    • Blog
    • Latest news
      back
      • Latest news
      • 2021 (1)
        back
        • 2021 (1)
        • 01
      • 2020 (1)
        back
        • 2020 (1)
        • 03
        • 03
        • 04
        • 05
        • 09
        • 11
      • 2014
        back
        • 2014
        • 01
        • 02
        • 03
        • 04
        • 05
        • 06
        • 07
        • 08
        • 09
        • 10
        • 11
        • 12
      • 2015
        back
        • 2015
        • 01
        • 02
        • 03
        • 04
        • 05
        • 06
        • 07
        • 08
        • 09
        • 10
        • 12
      • 2016
        back
        • 2016
        • 01
        • 02
        • 03
        • 04
        • 05
        • 06
        • 07
        • 08
        • 09
        • 10
        • 11
        • 12
      • 2017
        back
        • 2017
        • 01
        • 02
        • 03
        • 04
        • 05
        • 06
        • 07
        • 08
        • 09
        • 10
        • 11
        • 12
      • 2018
        back
        • 2018
        • 01
        • 02
        • 03
        • 04
        • 05
        • 06
        • 07
        • 08
        • 09
        • 10
        • 11
        • 12
      • 2019
        back
        • 2019
        • 01
        • 03
        • 04
        • 06
        • 07
        • 08
        • 09
        • 10
        • 11
        • 12
      • 2021
        back
        • 2021
        • 01
    • Upcoming events
      back
      • Upcoming events
      • 2015
        back
        • 2015
        • 06
        • 07
      • 2016
        back
        • 2016
        • 08
        • 09
          back
          • 09
          • STA Learning Day
    • Media information on ASH Scotland
    • Quick facts for the media
    • Sign up for our monthly update
  • Go smoke-free
    back
    • Go smoke-free
    • Reducing families' exposure to second-hand smoke in the home
  • Vacancies
Blog
Sign Up
  • Sitemap
  • Contact us
  • ASH in Belfast
  • ASH in Cardiff
  • ASH in London
ASH Scotland

Taking action on smoking and health

Sign Up
  • Home
  • About us  
    • Our organisational strategy 2018 to 2021
    • Annual report
    • Our people
    • Excluding the tobacco industry
    • Contact us
  • What we do  
    • Providing information on tobacco, health and inequality
    • Engaging children, young people and families
    • Networking and the Scottish Tobacco-free Alliance
    • Campaigning to improve health and well-being
    • Reducing health inequalities
    • Addressing smoking and mental health
  • What you can do  
    • Join the Scottish Tobacco-free Alliance
    • Tobacco awareness raising sessions
    • Ask us a question
    • Sign up to receive our free montly bulletin
    • Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation
  • Training and services
  • News & events
  • Go smoke-free  
    • Reducing families' exposure to second-hand smoke in the home
  • Vacancies
  1. Home
  2. News & events
  3. Latest news
  4. More than a third of Scots report smoking more during lockdown

More than a third of Scots report smoking more during lockdown

27th January 2021
Figures released from Scottish Government reveal that more than a third (36%) of people who smoke report smoking more during lockdown – with just 8% saying they smoke less.  A little over half (56%) of people who smoke reported smoking the same amount.  
 
The 2020 Scottish Health Survey looks at the impact of COVID-19 on people’s mental and physical health including smoking habits.  
 
Scotland has an ambition to be tobacco-free – with a smoking prevalence rate of 5% or less – by 2034 and these figures suggest that smoking habits are trending in the wrong direction.  
 
Evidence also suggests that smoking can worsen the severity of a COVID-19 infection, so it is more important than ever that people who want to quit smoking to have access to the help and support they need to be successful.  
 
Responding to the latest Scottish Health Survey figures, ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said:
 
“It’s really worrying that more than a third (36%) of people who smoke report smoking more during lockdown – with just 8% saying they are smoking less.  This has been a stressful time for us all and people are coping as best they can.  It is a common myth that smoking helps you relax, but actually smoking increases anxiety and stress.  
 
“We know that quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your physical health but it also improves your mental wellbeing by reducing depression, anxiety and stress.  I would encourage anyone wishing to stop smoking to contact Quit Your Way Scotland for help and support.” 
 
Ends
 
Contact ASH Scotland on 0777 335 1878 by arrangement or khartman@ashscotland.org.uk or media@ashscotland.org.uk 
 
Note to Editors:
 
1) ASH Scotland – Action on Smoking and Health (Scotland) - is the independent Scottish health charity taking action to reduce the harm caused by tobacco. See www.ashscotland.org.uk. 
2) The Scottish Government published the Scottish Health Survey 2020 on 26 January 2021. Between 5   August 2020 and 23 September 2020, telephone interviews were conducted with 1,920 adults (aged 16 and over) across 1,384 households.  The survey found that 36% of people who smoke reported smoking more during lockdown.  8% of people who smoke reported smoking less during lockdown and 56% of people reported smoking the same amount.
3) Further information about the link between smoking and COVID-19 can be found here: smoking-and-covid-19-briefing-april-2020 (ashscotland.org.uk)
 
News & events Blog Latest news Upcoming events Media information on ASH Scotland Quick facts for the media Sign up for our monthly update
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy and cookies policy
  • Find us

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.  

ASH Scotland is a Living Wage employeroscrlogo.png

ASH Scotland acknowledges with thanks the support of the British Heart Foundation and the Scottish Government in developing our website.

British Heart Foundation Scottish Govt

© 2021 ASH Scotland