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Lobby advocates choice on smoking
Published 16th November, 2004.
Story from BBC News Scotland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3635122.stm
A campaign has been launched to fight any moves to ban smoking in public
places in Scotland.
Freedom2Choose, which announced details of its plan at the Doublet Bar
in Glasgow on Wednesday, said a ban could be "potentially ruinous".
It believes there are a number of businesses, including pubs, which are
against the possible
policy change.
The campaign comes in the wake of the strongest hint yet that the Scottish
Executive will introduce a ban. Lessons to learn
During a visit to Ireland, where smoking has been banned in public places,
First Minister Jack McConnell said he could see the policy's overwhelming
popularity and the high level of compliance.
He said there were "lessons for us to learn" but he could see
the policy working out.
The public is currently being consulted on a possible smoking ban in Scotland.
An announcement from the executive is expected before Christmas.
Smoking remains the biggest cause of preventable premature death and ill
health and there is mounting evidence of the health risks of passive smoking.
Experts argue that 30 minutes' exposure is enough to reduce blood flow
to the heart.
