Smoking ban will hit Scottish workplaces by 2006

Smoking ban will hit Scottish workplaces by 2006

Smoking is to be banned in enclosed workplaces in Scotland, the Scottish Executive has decided.

The decision, which was a unanimous one by Scottish ministers, was announced in the Scottish Parliament by the First Minister, Jack McConnell. The ban would be in force from the spring of 2006, he said.

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Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said doctors understood the concerns over the potential economic impact of restrictions on smoking, but he added: “We must not lose sight of the fact that this legislation is about protecting the health of workers and the public. Human life is worth more than any economic argument.”

Jim Devine, spokesman for the public services union Unison, added: “Passive smoking seriously harms health and can kill those who are exposed to tobacco smoke for extended periods of time – most vulnerable are bar and restaurant workers.”