Further action to reduce smoking in Scotland

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport, has announced measures aimed at protecting future generations from the devastating health effects of smoking. In legislation published yesterday cigarette vending machines and tobacco displays in shops are set to be consigned to history in Scotland as part of radical measures designed to reduce child smoking. Among the measures included in the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill are the •banning of cigarette vending machines •banning of tobacco displays in shops •introduction of a registration scheme for retailers •introduction of powers to issue fixed penalty notices for retailers who sell cigarettes to under 18s •introduction of banning orders to prevent retailers selling cigarettes who continually break the law. Smoking in public places in Scotland was banned on March 26 2006 and on October 1 2007 the minimum age for buying cigarettes was raised to 18. REHIS has an excellent record of support for measures introduced to control tobacco in Scotland and fully supports the introduction of the Bill. Full information on the introduction of the Bill is available on the Scottish Government’s website www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009.