Scotland to ban smoking in pubs
The Scottish Executive is to press ahead with a smoking ban in pubs.
In an address to the Scottish Parliament, the Executive confirmed that pubs will not be exempt under a smoking ban in all public places.
First Minister Jack McConnell outlined plans for the ban, which should be in place by spring 2006 and said legislation will be enforced by environmental health and local licensing officers. Licensees who fail to enforce the law can expect to face fines up to a maximum of £2,500 and those who persistently refuse to comply with the law will face losing their licence. The Executive will also look to a system of issuing fixed penalty notices for individuals who break the law, with a maximum fine of £1,000.
The legislation will be introduced through the forthcoming Health Service (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament before Christmas.
Mr McConnell said: "A comprehensive ban will be a clear signal that Scotland has changed. It will reduce smoking, save lives and help transform our national health. It will be easier to enforce and simpler to understand than other options that would fall short of that.
"We will take the steps to implement this decision together with those affected, not simply to impose it on those who are addicted, or worried about their business."
The decision follows months of work from the trade to try and convince the Executive that a compromise in pubs can be achieved due to fears that trade will be seriously damaged by the ban.
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "We will continue to fight this in the interests of all the licensed trade. The ban will lead to hundreds if not thousands of pubs closing. The Executive has completely ignored our concerns and the public, 70 per cent of whom say they do not want a ban in pubs."
