Scotland considers smoking ban
Scottish Ministers are today expected to back a new law banning smoking in enclosed public spaces.
The Scottish Cabinet is meeting on Wednesday morning to consider the plans, under which a ban would be implemented in early 2006.
The move is designed to tackle Scotland’s poor health record and high level of deaths from tobacco-related diseases.
It follows a consultation by the Scottish Executive, which revealed that 90 per cent of Scots support at least a partial ban.
A group of 20 cancer and medical charities have taken out a series of full-page newspaper adverts urging the executive to implement a total ban.
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association, which represents pubs and clubs, says a ban would damage the trade and is ready to go to court to block it.
Scottish Ministers are thought to be impressed with the success of a ban on smoking in public places in Ireland, which was implemented early in 2004.
Later this month the Department of Health will set out the way it plans to take this issue forward in England and Wales through its white paper on public health.
A decision to ban smoking in public places in Scotland would put pressure on the DoH to follow suit.
In October Liverpool City Council became the first council to vote in favour of a ban on smoking in public places. It wants the Government to bring forward legislation allowing it to implement a ban within the next year.
