SATURDAY will mark 10 years since Scotland implemented a smoking ban in enclosed public places.
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of Ash Scotland says that the landmark legislation “has been a real success in protecting people”.
Often called the ‘sick man of Europe,’ according to Duffy the ban has brought a “tremendous difference to the health of people in Scotland”.
At the time worries were raised over the impact on the hospitality sector, and recent figures from Camra (the Campaign for Real Ale) have brought that issue back into the fore.
Since the ban on smoking over 1000 pubs in Scotland have closed – from 5,794 licensed premise at the end of 2005 to 4,558 today.
But despite the headlines, there may be more factors at play (see our interview with Camra’s Ray Turpie)
For Ash Scotland’s Duffy, the impact of the ban was negligible.
Looking ahead, Duffy says keeping public awareness at the harm tobacco causes is key.
The next stage is banning smoking in vehicles, which she believes will be debated in the next parliament.
THE GLASGOW GAZETTE 