Scots to ban public smoking

SCOTLAND yesterday moved towards banning smoking in public places, with tough fines for repeat offenders.

Legislation similar to that already in place in Ireland will be launched before Christmas and a target date of spring 2006 is being set for full implementation, First Minister Jack McConnell told the Scottish Parliament.

He said the move was necessary to tackle the country’s “lamentable” health record, and said the ban would have few exemptions.

Medical organisations, cancer charities and trade unions welcomed the “bold” move.

Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Huge numbers of lives will be saved as a result of this legislation and many smokers, desperate for the support to give up, will have a golden opportunity to quit successfully.”

But the country’s licensed trade threatened a legal battle, saying a ban would cause 30,000 job losses.

Scottish Licensed Trade Association chief executive Paul Waterson, who had pressed unsuccessfully for a voluntary approach to curbing smoking, said: “We will continue the fight.

“We are consulting with legal advisers and we will pursue every avenue to ensure that the interests of the licensed trade are upheld.”

Mr McConnell cited the experience of smoking bans in Ireland and New York, and told MSPs: “Our research estimates there will be a net economic benefit.”