Smoking
is to be banned in enclosed public places in Scotland, the Scottish
Executive has decided.
The
decision, which was a unanimous one by Scottish ministers, was announced
in the Scottish Parliament by the First Minister, Jack McConnell.
Doctors
and anti-tobacco groups had urged the executive to "be brave"
and opt for a ban to improve public health.
Licensees
have vowed to fight the ban, which follows similar moves by Ireland,
Norway and parts of the USA.
Mr
McConnell told MSPs that the ban would be in force from the spring of
2006.
The
health arguments far outweighed lingering public disquiet about a complete
ban and claims by the licensed trade that jobs would be lost, he said.
Bill
O'Neill, Scottish secretary of the British Medical Association, said:
"Devolution has provided us with an opportunity to lead the rest of
the UK in developing this vital piece of public health legislation.
"Voluntary
measures, which are about comfort rather than public health protection,
have been in place for over 10 years and have been proved to be
ineffective.
"Each
year we continue to rely on these half-hearted measures, Scots continue to
suffer from passive smoke-related illnesses and significant numbers die.
"International
experience shows that comprehensive tobacco control programmes, supported
by national legislation, work."
Professor
Alex Markham, of Cancer Research UK, said that a ban on smoking in public
in Scotland could signal the biggest step forward in the fight against
cancer for a generation.
The
British Heart Foundation, also urged the executive to follow Ireland's
lead.
Leader
of the Royal College of Nurses in Scotland James Kennedy said decisive
action was needed to tackle Scotland's poor public health record.
The
country had been at the bottom of European health league tables for too
long, and this was "an opportunity for Scotland to lead the way in
the UK and make a real difference".
'Real
difference'
Jim
Devine, spokesman for the public services union Unison, called banning
smoking in enclosed public places a "basic health and safety
matter".
"Passive
smoking seriously harms health and can kill those who are exposed to
tobacco smoke for extended periods of time - most vulnerable are bar and
restaurant workers.
"To
continue to allow people to work in smoky environments is the 21st century
equivalent of sending children up chimneys."
Scottish
Executive insiders have said that the economic claims made by opponents do
not add up, as trade had increased in New York bars and restaurants after
a ban there.
Scotland's
health record meant it was not acceptable to simply wait for public
opinion to catch up.
However,
the executive has been warned that publicans will fight "tooth and
nail" to stop plans for an outright ban on smoking on their premises.
Compromise
option
Paul
Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said publicans did
not agree with a total ban and feared it could destroy their businesses.
He
argued that while his members were backing new curbs, a full ban would be
disastrous for the trade.
He
said: "We fully endorse the executive's desire to tighten smoking
policy. But we still believe that we don't have to go from nothing to a
total ban
"We
have compromise proposals on the table, they are fair, we believe they are
workable and we think that we don't have to go to a full ban here."
Cigarette
producers have claimed the people of Scotland are not in favour of a ban.
The
Tobacco Manufacturers' Association (TMA) said an executive-commissioned
poll had found a 50-50 split between those for and against further
restrictions on smoking in public.
TMA
chief executive Tim Lord said Scotland had been surveyed as part of a
UK-wide poll of 10,000 people.
'Costly
bureaucracy'
The
results indicated that 77% of people were not in favour of a total ban in
pubs, clubs and bars, he said.
"The
public want choice, not a legislative ban with costly bureaucracy
"We
urge the executive to maintain support behind a voluntary approach,
reflecting public opinion."
A
spokesman for the executive declined to confirm the findings and said the
poll would be discussed during the cabinet meeting.
Deputy
Health Minister Rhona Brankin said: "In my view, the responsibility
for politicians is to take action to save lives.
Death
toll
"Scotland
has one of the worst health reputations in western Europe, with one in
four of all deaths attributable to smoking.
"About
13,000 people die every year as a result of smoking - we have to tackle
that."
Ms
Brankin added that 7,000 people in Ireland stopped smoking in the first
months of the Irish ban and tobacco sales have fallen 16%.
She
said: "The facts are there and they are irrefutable - we simply must
take action."
source www.bbc.co.uk
