Campaigning to improve health and well-being

ASH Scotland campaigns improve health through achieving political and cultural change.

Our campaigns are rooted in the best available research evidence and we work together with other health charities, academics, and health professionals - including through the SCOT partnership.

Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Progress Report

In September 2021, ASH Scotland, as part of a group of Scotland’s 10 leading health charities, published a report calling for urgent and bold policy action on health harming products such as tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drink. You can read the read the progress report publish in January 2022 here.

Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Report 2021-2022

With the commencement of the 2021/22 Parliament, the ASH Scotland has come together again with nine other charities to call for urgent action.

We call on the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to take meaningful action to reduce the impact of health harming products and to build a healthier Scotland for future generations. This report sets our priority areas for action in the first year of this Parliament.

Manifesto Scottish Parliamentary Elections 2021

The May 2021 parliamentary election in Scotland brings about a real opportunity for the next Scottish Government to up its game on tobacco control. We need to urgently tackle the causes of health inequalities, including tobacco harms, protect children and young people from tobacco use and rid the environment of plastic cigarette filters.

Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Manifesto

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) (such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and lung disease) are responsible for almost 39,000 deaths every year in Scotland — that’s more than two-thirds of all deaths. We’re campaigning with other public health organisations to address Scotland’s biggest killers through action on societal factors that cause ill-health.

Plastic cigarette filters

Nearly four thousand million cigarette butts discarded in Scotland each year are made of plastic, yet these cigarette filters do not bring health benefits. Cigarette butts are a substantial part of our plastic pollution problem and must be included in any plan of action on single-use plastics.

Mass media advertising

Just as tobacco companies use adverts and brands whenever they can to spread their addictive product, so can advocates of public health use the same techniques to encourage smokers to quit. We're campaigning for a comprehensive and effective mass media campaign for Scotland.

Tackling illicit tobacco

In advance of standardised "plain" packaging coming into force in 2016, ASH Scotland released a report, Dodgy Cigs, detailing the way the tobacco industry has raised ill-founded concerns about illicit tobacco to oppose public health measures. A short "key points" version is also available.

Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT)

SCOT - the Scottish Coalition On Tobacco - is a dynamic coalition of 21 health groups, charities and civic and voluntary organisations campaigning to shape a positive future for public health in Scotland. The combined influence of SCOT adds weight to policies and campaigning, and demands the attention of all policy makers.

Improving Scotland’s Health: 2021 and Beyond Cross-Party Group

The Improving Scotland's Health cross-party group brings MSPs, academics and campaigners together to improve Scotland's health by reducing the harm caused by alcohol, tobacco, poor diet and obesity.