Smooth Start for Ban on Smoking in Scotland

[Guest guest]

As Scotland starts the working week it appears the introduction of

the smoking ban has passed off without a hitch.

In pubs, restaurants and all public enclosed places across the

country, smokers have been forced outside.

 

Scotland's eight police forces said the first evening passed off

peacefully and Health Minister Andy Kerr said he expected most people

to obey the ban.

 

Its impact will be watched closely in England, Wales and Northern

Ireland, where bans have also been planned.

 

Smoking enforcement officers are continuing their patrols in a number

of local authority areas.

 

From what we are being led to believe, it's been quite well

followed

 

But they were expected to adopt a " softly-softly " approach in the

first few days.

 

Scots appear divided on the issue. Non-smoker Maria Tillman, 37, from

Abbeyhill in Edinburgh, said she was getting reacquainted with pubs

again.

 

Speaking from a hostelry in the city centre, she said: " It's great to

be able to put your nice clothes on, knowing you won't go home

stinking of smoke.

 

" I used to get headaches and a sort of 'hungover' feeling just from

the smoke, so it's a joy to know those days are over. "

 

But 50-a-day smoker Helen Webster, 48, from Falkirk, condemned the

ban.

 

She said: " It has made us feel like criminals. You pay enough for

fags as it is in taxes, so I think it is completely unfair. "

 

SCOTLAND'S SMOKING BAN

Smoking in an enclosed public place - £50 fine

Operators of premises face fines of £200 for allowing others to smoke

or failing to display warnings

Enforced by environmental health officers

No smoking signs will carry a named person to whom a complaint can be

made

Complaints can also be logged by calling 0845 130 7250

Ban covers most indoor places and workplaces, not homes

Smoking allowed in shelters which comply with regulations

 

A BBC poll suggested a fifth of smokers intended to flout the ban.

 

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said 22 of its environmental

health officers had patrolled 147 venues, where they found very few

problems.

 

She said: " They visited pubs, restaurants, hotels and clubs, and all

of the venues were complying with the smoking ban.

 

" The only slight issue was in terms of signage in a handful of

places, but the council has had no complaints to its designated email

address. "

 

A spokesman for Fife Police said: " From what we are being led to

believe, it's been quite well followed. A lot of smokers are stepping

outside for their cigarettes. "

 

A spokesman for the national compliance line, which fields

allegations of offences, said he had taken 23 calls by 2200 BST.

 

Only five of those were eventually logged as alleged breaches of the

ban.

 

Individuals who flout the legislation face a fixed penalty of £50.

 

 

 

We're a law-abiding nation and if it can happen in New York, I think

it can happen in East Kilbride and Scotland as a whole

 

Andy Kerr

Health Minister

 

 

Reaction to smoking ban

 

Mr Kerr, speaking at a pub in East Kilbride, said the new law would

be " sensibly " enforced in the early days but said he had faith in

public compliance.

 

" But we're a law-abiding nation. If it can happen in New York, I

think it can happen in East Kilbride and Scotland as a whole.

 

" Look at the seatbelt legislation, that became the norm and I think

this will be the same in due course. "

 

Health campaigners have hailed the law as the biggest step forward in

a generation.

 

But smokers' lobby group Forest has accused ministers of misleading

the public over the health impact and economic costs of the ban.

 

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association, which had called for a

partial ban, fears 140 pubs could close and 2,500 jobs may be lost.