Clearing the Air Scotland - Healthier Scotland - Scottish Executive

"We all know smoking is highly addictive and once you start its hard to stop. Hopefully the introduction of the smoking ban will encourage many smokers, especially social ones, to give up the habit for ever."

"I am totally in favour of the ban and can't wait for it to come into force. Not only will it benefit non - smokers but it will discourage 'social smokers' from lighting up when they are out drinking."

"There's nothing worse than meeting an attractive girl in the pub and then she lights up. Her breath will stink and she will grow old quickly. A lot of kids smoke because they believe it looks cool. Cool kids are the ones that stand up for themselves and say no."

"I fully support the call to end smoking in enclosed public places. Too many people suffer health problems because of smoking and second hand smoke; its time we had cleaner air in all our enclosed public places."

“Thirty years ago I saw my father die from the effects of smoking. Eight years ago, I watched my wife fight bravely, but in vain, against lung cancer. A couple of years after that, it struck down one of my closest friends. Too right I'm backing the Executive.”

"I am totally in favour of a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces. It will encourage more people to give up, will be good for our health, and make eating out a joy. I feel incredibly lucky that my only experience with smoking was a couple of sly puffs at the back of the school bus which made me turn pea green and almost throw up. I am so glad that I never got hooked on cigarettes. It is incredibly tough to give up, but I hope as many Scots as possible decide to stub out their fags and have a longer healthier life. Think of the money you'll save and how much better you'll feel."

"Whilst playing rugby for Scotland, I took my health very seriously and I still do. For that reason I don't smoke myself and I worry about the health effects of passive smoking. I think the forthcoming smoking ban will bring enormous health benefits to the country. It will provide cleaner air for everyone, not least hospitality workers who deserve to be able to work in smoke-free, clean environments. It will also provide greater opportunity for smokers to reduce the amount they smoke and maybe even quit. It's a hard thing to do but I think even a lot of smokers would agree that their health could improve as a result."

"As an ex-athlete and daughter of a parent fighting lung cancer I strongly support a total ban on smoking in all public places. If you could only see the pain and suffering my father has to go through every day due to smoking. You would not put another cigarette in your mouth."

"Getting a bronze medal for the 4x400m relay in Helsinki is an achievement that I am extremely proud of. In order to compete in top level athletics you have to keep a close eye on your health and ensure that nothing affects your ability to perform at your best. For that reason I dislike cigarette smoke and look forward to the smoking ban as a means to protect myself and others from the damaging effects of second-hand smoke."

"As a player, in order to be at your best you need to stay healthy and obviously avoiding smoking is important. I hope the new smoking ban will allow people to live and work in a nicer environment and ultimately make us all enjoy a healthier country."

"People know the risks involved in smoking but its up to them if they want to damage their health, smoking is a personal choice. I am 100 per cent behind the smoking ban it will be so nice to go out to restaurants and other public places and breath in clean air and not feel I am being polluted by other people’s smoke."

"Breathing in other people's smoke gets up my nose. As a player I was delighted when Scottish Rugby introduced a smoking ban within the bowl at Murrayfield Stadium and the proposed ban by the Scottish Executive on smoking in enclosed public places is something I'd welcome. We're keen to encourage families to our sport and the fact our venue is smoke-free is fantastic."

"If people choose to smoke that's a personal choice and I respect that, but I think the smoking ban will help to protect people from second-hand smoke. I'm conscious of my child's health as well as my own; it'll be great to take her into a restaurant when we are in Scotland and not have to worry about passive smoking."

“As a Patron of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation I am fully supportive of this legislation. Preventing smoking in public places will save lives, in particular those people working in clubs and pubs. This legislation will prevent unnecessary suffering such as that experienced by the many people who die of a smoking related disease without ever having been a smoker."

“As a professional footballer it’s important for me to take my health seriously. I think the forthcoming smoking ban will help everyone to stay healthier by providing people with clean, smoke free places to work and socialize. I realize that smoking is a personal choice, but I’d rather people didn’t smoke around me.”

“A ban on smoking in public places will lead to a healthier lifestyle. Smokers may find it hard to begin with but will soon see the benefits in their health, as well as their wallets.”

“Scotland’s bars and restaurants going smoke free is the best way to encourage people to give up, especially those who may only have a cigarette with a drink. People may be against the idea now, but they will get used to it and we will all begin to see and feel the benefits. Hopefully, it will give people the confidence to quit completely and become more aware of their health and fitness.”

"Passive smoking is a major killer and I am glad to be supporting the ban. While smoking kills over 13,000 people in Scotland each year, passive smoking kills up to 1,000 people, an extremely alarming figure. Anything that can be done to reduce a person's exposure to second hand smoke is to be applauded and I urge all of Scotland to get behind this."

"I am pleased to be able to support the smoking ban in Scotland which I am sure can only have a positive effect on the overall health of people across the country. In football, a healthy lifestyle is very important but it is important to promote healthy living in all walks of life and the smoking ban will assist in doing this. I am fully supportive of the Scottish Executive's efforts in this area."

"I look forward to the smoking ban coming into effect. It will make going out in Edinburgh a much more enjoyable experience. It makes it fair for everyone, the smokers can still go outside for a cigarette and everyone else can enjoy themselves without out having to inhale other people's smoke."