The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 13) is an act of the Scottish Parliament which prohibited smoking in some situations and made certain other reforms to healthcare in Scotland.
Context Scotland was the first jurisdiction in the United Kingdom to legislate for a ban on smoking in public.
Provisions
Smoking and tobacco The act banned smoking in public places including pubs, restaurants, an offices, theatres, bingo halls and public toilets. The act included an exemption for prison cells and residential care centres.
The act increased the minimum age to buy tobacco from 16 to 18.
The act prohibited allowing others to smoke in no-smoking premises, requiring owners of no-smoking premises to display warning notices.
Other policies The act also included provisions concerning free eye tests and dental checks, and also authorised payouts for those who contracted hepatitis C from NHS products.
Reception The legislation was supported by all parties in the Scottish Parliament except the Scottish Conservatives.
Implementation The ban on smoking in public came into force on 26 March 2006.
Compliance rates initially ranged from 92% to 98%.
Further developments Jack McConnell described the legislation as his proudest moment.
See also Smoking in the United Kingdom Tobacco control
Notes
References
External links
Scottish Executive site about the ban Tobacco Information Scotland Portal which provides information on tobacco control in Scotland, includes a guide to Scotland's smoke-free legislation ASH Scotland Voluntary organisation which lobbied for smoke-free legislation in Scotland and works to educate the people of Scotland about the dangers of tobacco