Smoke free dawn for Scotland
26 Mar 2006Scotland woke up this morning to become the first part of the UK to implement a smoking ban in enclosed public places.
The ban came into effect at 6am today making it illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, theatres, bingo halls, church halls, sports centres, shopping centres, public transport, schools, hospitals, clubs, and workplaces, including lorries and vans.
First Minister Jack McConnell said Scotland could now look forward to a healthier future while Health Minister Andy Kerr said there had never been a better time for smokers to quit than now.
At Edinburgh Airport where he met new arrivals to the country to infom them about the new law, Mr McConnell said:
"Scotland will be proud that it has gone smoke-free ahead of any other part of the UK. The smoking ban is absolutely the right way forward. It is right for Scotland, for our nation's health, our nation's economy and our tourist industry.
"This country has always been a great place to live, to work, to bring up your children and even just to visit. Today, it just got better.
"In the years ahead, people will look back on today as the day that Scotland took the largest single step to improve its health for generations. It is a day for all Scots to be proud of our nation. Scotland - the best small country in the world."
In East Kilbride, where he joined customers and staff at a newly smoke free pub, Mr Kerr said:
"Scotland is now smoke free. As well as protecting people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, this far-reaching and ambitious step will help many people to give up smoking. Evidence from Ireland and New York proves this.
"There really has never been a better time to quit. I know how difficult it is to stop smoking but it is the best decision a smoker can make. Stopping smoking is not only good for the health of the individual but Scotland as a whole.
"As a smoke-free nation Scotland can look forward to a healthier future. A future where Scots live longer, families stay together longer and our young people are fitter and better prepared to make the most of their ambitions.
"It is a future that we can all look forward to and Scotland should be proud that it's leading the way in the UK."
In Scotland, seven out of 10 people don't smoke and of those who do, seven out of 10 want to give up. Calls to the national quitline in 2005, at over 60,000, were almost double the number calling in 2003.
In Ireland there has also been a significant drop in the number of cigarettes being smoked, particularly among heavy smokers since 2003. And in New York there are now nearly 200,000 fewer smokers since 2002.