Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Apr;19(2):198-205.
doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckn141. Epub 2009 Jan 16.

The impact of smokefree legislation in Scotland: results from the Scottish ITC: Scotland/UK longitudinal surveys

Andrew Hyland  1 , Louise M Hassan, Cheryl Higbee, Christian Boudreau, Geoffrey T Fong, Ron Borland, K Michael Cummings, Mi Yan, Mary E Thompson, Gerard Hastings
Affiliations

The impact of smokefree legislation in Scotland: results from the Scottish ITC: Scotland/UK longitudinal surveys

Andrew Hyland et al. Eur J Public Health. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate how Scotland's smokefree law impacted self-reported secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in hospitality venues, workplaces and in people's homes. In addition, we examine changes in support for the law, pub and restaurant patronage, smoking cessation indicators and whether any observed changes varied by socioeconomic status.

Methods: A quasi-experimental longitudinal telephone survey of nationally representative samples of smokers and non-smokers interviewed before the Scottish law (February to March 2006) and 1 year later after the law (March 2007) in Scotland (n = 705 smokers and n = 417 non-smokers) and the rest of the UK (n = 1027 smokers and n = 447 non-smokers) where smoking in public places was not regulated at the time.

Results: Dramatic declines in the observance of smoking in pubs, restaurants and workplaces were found in Scotland relative to the rest of the UK. The change in the percent of smokers reporting a smokefree home and number of cigarettes smoked inside the home in the evening was comparable in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Support for smokefree policies increased to a greater extent in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Self-reported frequency of going to pubs and restaurants was generally comparable between Scotland and the rest of the UK; however, non-smokers in Scotland were more likely to frequent pubs more often. No differences in smoking cessation indicators were observed between countries.

Conclusion: The Scottish smokefree law has been successful in decreasing secondhand smoke exposure while causing none of the hypothesized negative outcomes.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Proposed identification of environmental tobacco smoke as a toxic air contaminant. Part B: health effects. California environmental protection agency. Office of environmental health hazard assessment. Air Toxicol Epidemiol Branch. [(accessd 7 June 2008)]; (Available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/ets/finalreport/finalreport.htm)
    1. Health U.S. Department of and Human Services. 2006. The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke: a report of the surgeon general. US department of health and human services, centers for disease control and prevention, coordinating center for health promotion, national center for chronic disease prevention and health promotion, office on smoking and health.
    1. International Agency for Research on Cancer Monograph's Program, ‘Monograph on Tobacco Smoking, both Active and Passive,’ World Health Organization. [(accessed 25 November 2003)];2002 Jun; Available at http://www.iarc.fr/pageroot/PRELEASES/pr141a.html.
    1. Global Voices for a Smokefree World: Movement Towards a Smokefree Future, Global Smokefree Partnership. [(accessed 11 October 2007)];2007 Available at http://www.globalsmokefreepartnership.org/files/members/files//82.pdf.
    1. Jamrozik K. Smoke free partnership. Lifting the smokescreen: 10 reasons for a smoke free Europe. Brussels: ERSJ Ltd; 2006. An estimate of deaths attributable to passive smoking in Europe; pp. 17–41.

Publication types

Substances