SCOTLAND BANS SMOKING (Nationwide ban in all enclosed public places)

Sky News ^ | November 10, 2004

[Stoat]

Ministers have agreed an outright ban

	VIDEO: Decision Due

SCOTLAND BANS SMOKING

Smoking in enclosed public places will be banned in Scotland under legislation to be launched before Christmas, the First Minister said today.   

Jack McConnell told the Scottish Parliament the legislation would have a target date of spring 2006 for full implementation.

Licensees or employers who fail to enforce the law in their premises will face fines of up to £2,500 - and those who persistently flout the law will face the ultimate sanction of having their licence withdrawn. 

However, the proposals face a rough ride. Publicans have vowed to "fight tooth and nail" against it, backed by polls which show the vast majority of Scots do not favour a total ban. 

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association warns that the move could trigger job losses.

Individuals who smoke in enclosed public areas will face fixed penalty notices with a maximum fine of up to £1,000 for persistent offenders.

Environmental health and local licensing standards officers will be responsible for enforcement.

Private clubs will not be exempt from the ban.

The decision to go for a ban was taken by Scottish ministers at a Cabinet meeting  but was not disclosed until Mr McConnell's statement to MSPs.

He told Parliament that poor diet, excessive drinking, lack of exercise and drug abuse all made Scotland one of the unhealthiest nations in Europe.

"Too many people smoke, and too many people die or fall ill from cancer, stroke and heart disease," he said.

"The single largest cause of preventable premature death in Scotland is smoking."

He detailed the consultation process that the Executive launched on ways to curb the toll of 13,000 smoking-related deaths a year.

[Stoat]

Readers of this article may also be interested in these Free Republic threads:

Scotland Police chiefs refuse to enforce smoking ban

Scotland McConnell plans get out on total smoke ban (Sweeping zero-tolerance anti-smoking plan)

[blakep]

Laura Miller, a politician here in Dallas banned smoking in Dallas because she was tired of smelling smoke in resteraunts, and our economy in the areas where smoking was banned plummeted because the smokers went elsewhere.

Politicians need to think about the negatives in regards to implementing laws such as these. Ridiculous.

[lilylangtree]

Scotland's tobacco companies stock, if they have any, will plummit.

[annyokie]

Puff ping!

[Da_Shrimp]

If it's going to happen in Scotland, I doubt England will be far behind.

I don't smoke myself, but people who want to should be able to in dedicated areas of a pub!

[Grit]

"Smoking in enclosed public places will be banned in Scotland"

"Private clubs will not be exempt from the ban."


It seems that in Scotland Private clubs are public places. This is double plus ungood.

[Fiddlstix]

Ping

[Gabz]

What part of private property do these people not understand?

[Sans-Culotte]

Private clubs will not be exempt from the ban.

Obviously, this is not even about protecting the air for non-smokers. They are simply trying to force everyone to quit.

[Gabz]

Thanks for the heads up!!!!!

[Gabz]

.....and our economy in the areas where smoking was banned plummeted because the smokers went elsewhere.

Don't you know that is just tobacco industry propaganda?? I mean, everyone knows that non-smokers will flock to places without smoking and business will BOOM...........afetr all that want the ban-addicts keep telling us, and they would nevr lie, would they? (/sarcasm)

[Gabz]

That is the disconnect that never ceases to amaze me.

[annyokie]

You're welcome!

[Gabz]

Thanks, FRiend!!!!

[Gabz]

The good news is that it looks like those impacted by it are going to fight back........unlike in other places. I wish them luck.

[Fiddlstix]

You're welcome

[evets]

If it's not Scottish...

[Polyxene]

Quick, somebody page Arlen Specter!! Scottish Law, Scottish Law!!!

[Pompah]

Having visited any number of smoke-filled Scottish Pub's this past September (From Thurso to Edinbugh) I can tell you that Mr. Jack McConnell is in for one hell of a fight
with his crusade to make the lives of stubborn Scot's better . .. For thier own good of course.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I don't know, can one expect anything different from a land where men wear skirts?

PUFF...

[EllaMinnow]

All of my Scottish relatives - and I have quite a few - smoke like chimneys. My uncle once told me that smoking is the national pastime of Scotland.

If other Scots are as tough as my uncles, who raised me on stories of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace and "Scotland the Brave," this won't go over well.

[uglybiker]

The smoke must taint th' flavour o' the Haggis!

[Stoat]

Photos from the Front Lines:  The Brave Sons of Scotland fight back against Government Oppression

[Uncle Vlad]

A nation that considers haggis its national dish wants to ban smoking. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense...

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Exhaling from a thick densely packed very strong cigar.

Last I heard this was not going to be enforced by the police.

Well this would make it difficult to enjoy fine scotch there.

[Gabz]

Tell it to the Marines............

[Republicus2001]

I bet you can smoke pot tho'

[Gabz]

I also read the police will not enforce it.

Some places have police enforcement, others don't.

[anymouse]

Great Scott! What were you thinking man?

[Bella_Bru]

My Scottish friends have told me the law is laughable and probably won't be enforced. It's a just a bone to throw to the anti-smoking crusaders.

[StoneColdGOP]

This sucks.

Totally makes me not want to spend a dime there.

[Stoat]

You may wish to read this article:

Scotland Police chiefs refuse to enforce smoking ban

"And yesterday, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) told The Scotsman that using beat officers to chase smokers would be an "ineffective" use of resources.

The warning opens the way for new teams of "smoking police" employed by local authorities or health boards, who will target pubs and clubs once a ban is imposed. "

In other words, instead of making this part of the purview of the regular Police, they will have a dedicated 'smoking police' who will do absolutely nothing else other than enforce this ban.  As a result, the actual enforcement will likely be dramatically greater than if the regular police had integrated this into their law enforcement duties.

[RockinRight]

Big brother at it again.

And the Europeans say WE don't care about personal freedoms???

[Gabz]

That's the way it is in many locales with smoking bans.

[stumpy]

Well, I've ruled out Ireland from my future pub crawl, guess I'll remove Scotland too. If it keeps up I'll be limited to "new Europe".

[Protagoras]

The headline is misleading. These are not "public" places. They are private property in many cases. I don't know if Scotland has ever been strong on property rights.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

He told Parliament that poor diet, excessive drinking, lack of exercise and drug abuse all made Scotland one of the unhealthiest nations in Europe.

Uh-oh, here come the health Nazis...

[sodpoodle]

Should treat smoke related health problems like HIV and AIDS related health problems!

How would that work............let me count the ways?

[Stoat]

I don't know what the 'pub scene' is like in Poland, Romania and other countries which have been supportive allies (and so are regarded as "new Europe") but I agree; I'm more likely to spend my tourism dollars there rather than in nations whose governments are oppressing their people (as well as tourists).

(Don't misunderstand; I feel indebted to and very proud of Scotland for her support in the War on Terror. Scotland's legendary Black Watch troops were instrumental in freeing up US troops for the current assault on Fallujah, and the Black Watch has taken troop losses. Scotland's support is highly regarded and sincerely appreciated.)

[Stoat]

"The headline is misleading. These are not "public" places. They are private property in many cases. I don't know if Scotland has ever been strong on property rights."

I added the additional title descriptor about the ban applying to public places because that's the way it's referred to in the body of the article. Even though a given venue may be privately owned, they are nevertheless regarded as public places when they are open to public ACCESS. It's the same here in the US...privately ownned bars and restaurants are regarded as 'public places'.

That being said, I agree with your sentiment that this is an infringement upon rights, both those of the property owners as well as that of the patrons. The property rights angle is one of the ways that smoking bans are being fought here in the US.

[Protagoras]

It's the same here in the US...privately ownned bars and restaurants are regarded as 'public places'.

It's wrong here as well.

[Chode]

they ARE public in that you don't need to be a member for admitance like in the VFW, American Legion, Elks, Moose, Eagles, Playboy... anybody old enough can walk in and get served and in that sense they are public houses.
at least that's the way it was explained to me way back when.

[Stoat]

Precisely what I said.

[Feiny]

I can't believe this thread went to 19 posts before the Scottish Law reference. Damn, we are slipping!

[Chode]

sorry... i meant i was agreeing with you in your answer to #38

[prairiebreeze]

Well now, speaking strictly for myself, I've always been a bit partial to the look of a kilt-clad Scot. And the BlackWatch squadron is quite formidable.

Prairie

[Indie]

Private clubs will not be exempt from the ban. ... "Too many people smoke, and too many people die or fall ill from cancer, stroke and heart disease," he said.

Let's ban cars and..well hell let's just ban everything!!
SIEG HEIL!!
SIEG HEIL!!
SIEG HEIL!!

[Republicus2001]

you got that right --- for the elite the phrase actually is "too many people" or the American Eugenics Society or Planned Parenthood or fascism or communism - Statists Drunk again

BTW is the ketchup girl outta rehab yet?