If you smoke, giving up is probably the greatest single step you can take to improve your health.
Smoking in children
Despite it being against the law, levels of smoking are unacceptably high in children.
It is estimated that 6% of children aged 11 to 15 are regular smokers. This is particularly worrying as the longer a person smokes, the more likely it is that they will die from a smoking-related disease.
Impact on health
Smoking’s impact on public health is huge.
Smoking is a leading risk factor for many debilitating and, in many cases, potentially fatal health conditions such as:
Smoking and the law
Since March 2006, virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in Scotland have been smoke-free. It is illegal to smoke inside pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants, lunch rooms, membership clubs and shopping centres.
The smoke-free law was introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of passive smoking (secondhand smoke).
Under the smoke-free law, you are unable to smoke inside at work, including in smoking rooms.
Public transport and work vehicles that are used by more than one person are also smoke-free. No-smoking signs must be displayed in all smoke-free premises and vehicles.
Anyone who smokes in a smoke-free place may face an on-the-spot fine of £50. Refusal to pay or failure to pay may result in prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500. Anyone in charge of smoke-free premises or vehicles can face fines for two separate offences: failing to prevent smoking in a smoke-free place and failing to display no-smoking signs.
Since October 2007 it is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 in Scotland . The age limit was previously 16. This includes the sale of cigars, rolling tobacco, rolling papers and cigarettes from vending machines. This change in the law makes the age restriction the same as the age restriction for buying alcohol.
Getting help
Around 65% of smokers say they want to stop smoking, but most believe they are unable to. However, around half of all smokers eventually manage to give up.
The primary service for people who want to quit smoking in Scotland is CanStopSmoking. CanStopSmoking offers a range of free advice and support for people who want to quit.
Glossary
- Disease
- A disease is an illness or condition that interferes with normal body functions.
- Heart
- The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood around the body.
- Lung
- Lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that control breathing. They remove carbon dioxide from the blood and replace it with oxygen.
Last updated: 17 February 2012
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