Standardised packaging and improved education to create a tobacco-free nation

Scotland is the third nation in the world to set an ambitious target to become tobacco-free – by having less than five per cent the population choosing to smoke by 2034. The aim is part of a new tobacco control strategy, launched to reduce the number of people choosing to smoke. The strategy supports the introduction of standardised packaging and education programmes to prevent young people from starting to smoke. 

Services to help people stop smoking are to be improved and measures to protect people from the harms caused by second-hand smoke are also included in the strategy. Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson launched the new strategy during a visit to an education programme for 16-24 year olds in Carnegie College, Fife.

Mr Matheson said: “We’ve already seen the huge health benefits that followed the ban on smoking in public places. This Government is determined to build on this success, improving health and reducing health inequalities by reducing the number of people smoking.

“Our vision of a tobacco-free generation is about reaping the health, social and economic benefits that a significant reduction in smoking would bring  –  it would be an achievement of which we could all be proud.

“That’s why strong and decisive action, like standardised packaging and increased education, are the right steps to prevent young people from taking up smoking.”

The key actions from the Tobacco Control Strategy include:

• Setting 2034 as a target for a tobacco-free Scotland
• Supporting the introduction of standardised packaging
• Investing in education programmes for young people
• Implementing smoke-free hospital grounds by 2015
• Delivering a national marketing campaign on the danger of second-hand smoke
• Setting a target for reducing children’s exposure to second hand smoke.

Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy, University of Stirling said:

"Australia recently introduced plain packaging, but in advance of that there were a number of studies that looked at this issue. We brought these studies together in a recent systematic review of the evidence.  The findings are very consistent and show that plain packaging would reduce the appeal of cigarettes, improve the impact of health warnings on packs and help to reduce misunderstandings about the harmfulness of smoking. As part of the other actions set out in this strategy, plain packaging will have a key role to play in driving down smoking rates in Scotland in the future."

Anyone who wants to quit smoking can visit www.canstopsmoking.com or call Smokeline for free on 0800 848484 between 8am and 10pm to speak with an adviser and find the quitting method that’s right for them.