Ashtray

During January 2004 the Scottish Executive published a tobacco control action plan, which set out a range of measures to strengthen tobacco control. The plan looked at the possibility of imposing greater controls on smoking in public places in the face of a growing body of evidence that more restrictions would result in a significant improvement in the nation’s health.

Research shows that more than 13,000 people in Scotland die every year from the effects of smoking and within that number around 1,000 deaths could be attributed to passive smoking.

A consultation on possible changes in the law that followed attracted more than 53,000 responses. The findings showed that a large majority, 82%, thought that further action needed to be taken to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. 80% of respondents said they would support a law creating smoke-free enclosed public places, with few exemptions.