Demand for more action to stop youngsters smoking

Published on Wednesday 26 March 2008 09:14

CAMPAIGNERS today marked the second anniversary of the Scottish smoking ban by calling for more action to stop youngsters taking up the habit.

Edinburgh-based ASH Scotland released new figures showing more than eight out of ten Scots support the ban. The group also called for a licensing scheme for those selling tobacco to be brought in.

The group wants retailers who sell tobacco to have to apply for a licence, which could then be taken away if they were caught selling to underage youngsters.

The call comes as new figures revealed just 12 fixed penalty notices have been served on Edinburgh premises breaching the smoking ban.

A survey carried out for ASH Scotland showed that 65 per cent strongly supported a licensing scheme for tobacco retailers.

The survey also found that 66 per cent of Scots strongly supported the smoking ban, and only six per cent were strongly opposed to it.

The survey also found that 28 per cent of people visited pubs more often since the ban came in, with 16 per cent visiting them less often.

And 84 per cent agreed that Scottish bars and restaurants were more pleasant since becoming smoke-free.

ASH Scotland chief executive Sheila Duffy said: "Two years on, it is clear that the legislation has been a great success.

"Scotland has helped to blaze a trail for public health, ahead of smoke-free laws south of the Border and in other parts of Europe."

However, she added: "The next big challenge is to stop a new generation getting hooked on tobacco.

"Government figures show that every year, 15,000 13-24 year olds start smoking in Scotland. Eighty two per cent of 15-year-old smokers and 47 per cent of 13-year-old smokers report buying their cigarettes from shops.

"But in 2005-06, only two retailers were fined for selling cigarettes to children. The fines were both less than 200.

"ASH Scotland is calling on the government to take the next big step to improve the health of our young people.

"We want to see a positive licensing scheme, where retailers who sell tobacco products must apply for a straightforward licence. Any retailers found selling cigarettes to children could have their licence suspended."

Ms Duffy continued: "Our polling shows that 89 per cent of Scots would support this measure.

"It would be much more effective, and less bureaucratic, than the under-used current system of prosecution and fines for retailers who break the law.

"With this step, we could take real action to tackle the sale of cigarettes to children. Today I am challenging the Scottish Government to once again show us that it is leading the way to promote public health in the UK."

Meanwhile, new figures today show that city council environmental health officers have carried out 14,000 inspections since March 26, 2005.

A total of 12 fixed penalty notices have been handed out, along with 260 written warnings and one report which was sent to the Procurator Fiscal, which led to a fine.

Compliance with the smoking ban in Edinburgh is at 98.8 per cent, ahead of the national average of 96.8 per cent.

The council said it is now sharing its smoking ban enforcement expertise with other UK authorities.