BBC News Online
London, UK
10 September, 2007


Scots smoke ban 'improved health'

The Scottish smoking ban has led to a significant advance in public health, the most detailed scientific study of the measure so far has suggested.

Comparisons at nine hospitals revealed that there was a 17% year-on-year drop in heart attack admissions since the ban was introduced in March 2006.

It says the quality of air in pubs is now equivalent to that found outdoors.

Exposure to second-hand smoke north of the border is down by 40% among adults and children, the study added.

Scotland's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Peter Donnelly, said this was proof that the ban has produced major health gains.

But Scottish publicans claim that many of the benefits could have been achieved without a ban and complain that bar sales have declined because of it.

Professor Jill Pell, who headed the research team which made the findings, said: "The primary aim of smoking bans is to protect non smokers from the effects of passive smoking.

"Previous studies have not been able to confirm whether or not that has been achieved. What we were able to show is that among people who are non-smokers there was a 20% reduction in heart attack admissions.

"This confirms that the legislation has been effective in helping non-smokers."

Routine data

The findings will be presented to an international conference in Edinburgh on the ban organised by the Scottish Government.

They are based on scientific evidence collected from routine health data, as well as research projects undertaken by government scientists and Scottish universities.

Admissions to nine major Scottish hospitals were also compared in the year before and after the introduction of the ban.

After the Scotland banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, Wales and Northern Ireland followed suit in April 2007 and England did the same in July 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland...ast/6986554.stm