Be smoke-free, be happier 1

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of riding a bike downhill – effortless speed, and the world rushing by as you project casual gracefulness. If this was all there was to it we would spend a lot more time on our bikes.

Who in Scotland is selling tobacco, vaping products or both? Reply

Scotland’s tobacco retailers register has been expanded to include those selling Nicotine Vaping Products, giving us a useful tool to explore a wider market in nicotine products, and unique information on who is selling nicotine products and what kind.

What’s happening with the smoking rate in Scotland? Reply

The Office of National Statistics has just published its annual survey of smoking across the UK, suggesting a substantial drop in smoking in Scotland and in the other nations. This contrasts with a largely static estimate from the Scottish Health Survey. So what is going on?

How can young adults #befree and achieve more? 2

ASH Scotland is preparing to launch a new campaign highlighting how not smoking leaves young adults happier, better off and achieving more. Our Development Lead Emma Papakyriakou explains why…..

Brexit and the battle for public health Reply

The Health and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament has produced its report into “The Impact of Leaving the European Union on Health and Social Care in Scotland”.

ASH Scotland made a written submission to their consultation, and then presented to one of the oral evidence sessions, so we were interested to see what the report would say.

Buying tobacco for young people is not doing them a favour Reply

We are delighted that the Scottish Grocers’ Federation and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents are both supportive of our #notafavour campaign.

This campaign aims to reduce proxy purchase – where an adult buys tobacco and passes it on to someone too young to buy it themselves – by challenging the attitudes and assumptions that lead adults to do this.

Why ASH Scotland does not support a ban on smoking in the home Reply

Back in the office this morning after a few days off covering the school holidays. The first thing demanding attention is a slew of media articles along the lines of “Ban smoking at home, say Scots campaigners”.

Keeping tobacco out of the hands of young people Reply

It is hardly news to say that the main focus of efforts to stop young people taking up smoking has to be inequalities.

We know that smoking uptake is much higher in more disadvantaged groups. Figures from the Scottish Health Survey also show that smoking starts at an earlier and is more likely to continue into adulthood.

Pooh-poohing the latest tobacco industry campaign Reply

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So presumably the PR folk at tobacco company Philip Morris have been blushing modestly as they read the Scottish newspapers this week.

Time for Philip Morris to do a Volvo 3

In the news this week we hear that the UK is to follow France’s lead in banning diesel and petrol cars due to the harm caused by air pollution.