Wallace clears the air by backing smoke ban
DEPUTY First Minister Jim Wallace has become the first Cabinet minister to publicly declare his backing for a complete ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants in Scotland.
The Lib Dem leader told Scotland on Sunday last night that the argument in favour of outlawing smoking in public places was now "increasingly compelling".
As a result, he is now four-square behind the controversial plan under which smokers in bars would have to step outside if they wanted to light up.
Officials within the Scottish Executive are now preparing for a ban to be tabled by ministers by the end of this year. However, as it would require new legislation, it would not come into force until 2006 or 2007.
Wallace was initially hesitant over the case for a ban, believing that there were strong civil liberty arguments in favour of allowing smokers to continue.
However, his mind appears to have been changed by the successful implementation of bans in Ireland and New York City.
Wallace’s stance is crucial as new legislation requires his backing as leader of the Liberal Democrats. Without it the plan would fall even if First Minister Jack McConnell wanted it to go ahead.
Wallace said last night: "The recent constituency health statistics illustrated the link between smoking and ill health in Scotland. We must take action to stop the damage smoking and passive smoking do to people’s health and people’s lives. We cannot afford to wait for 20 years to evaluate the medical evidence from the initiatives in Ireland and elsewhere."
He added: "The longer we leave it, the more damage will be done to people’s health. The early experience of bans on smoking in public places in Ireland and New York seems positive and there is growing evidence of the harm caused by passive smoking.
"We need to await the outcome of the current consultation, but the weight of argument in favour of a ban on smoking in public places is increasingly compelling. It could well be a vital step forward in our drive to improve Scotland’s health."
With McConnell known to be "open to persuasion" on the smoking ban, it seems almost inevitable that the move will now be agreed by the whole Cabinet.
Deputy health minister Tom McCabe, who is steering a major public debate on smoking at present, is also believed to back the full ban.
Supporters of the ban claim that it would save the lives of 1,000 people who they say die in Scotland every year from passive smoking.
Furthermore, evidence shows that the ban cuts the number of smokers. In New York, figures suggest that around 100,000 people have given up the habit since it was outlawed in pubs.
Medical professionals are also demanding that a ban be enacted in Scotland. Last week, 10 cancer specialists from one of Scotland’s leading hospitals wrote to McConnell urging him to press ahead with the plan.
Professor Alan Rodger, medical director of the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow, said: "There is no doubt if someone is less likely to be able to strike up a cigarette, that will be one or two or three or four or five less cigarettes that they will smoke. This way we are also saving the smokers."
But there are concerns that a ban could harm the licensed trade, if the 30% of Scots who smoke decide to stay at home rather than head out to the pub.
Opponents said they would fight any legislation, and criticised ministers for speaking out while the official public consultation on the matter was still ongoing.
Chris Ogden, director of the Tobacco Manufactures’ Association, said: "My first reaction to Mr Wallace’s comments is that this seems to me to be a bit premature when there is a consultation still on-going.
"We think a lot of the concerns about second-hand smoke are unfounded and based on unjustified claims. There is no conclusive evidence one way or the other on the issue."
Ogden added that the public remained opposed to a smoking ban. He said: "A recent survey by the Office of National Statistics showed that seven out of 10 people were not in favour of a total ban in smoking in bars and restaurants. What people do want is choice.
"We are fully behind segregated areas, because there is no question that many non-smokers find smoke annoying. But there is a world of difference between finding it annoying and banning it altogether."
Anti-cigarette campaigners welcomed Wallace’s comments. Iain Brotchie, spokesman for ASH Scotland, said: "We too believe that it is now time to take this step forward and end smoking in all public places."
"We are looking at saving 1,000 lives a year in Scotland. That is far more than are killed in traffic accidents every year."
"We feel that the voluntary approach hasn’t worked. Eight out of 10 pubs still allow smoking throughout the pub, despite the fact that only 30% of adults actually smoke. Seventy per cent of smokers want to give up."
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