Tobacco use: key points

Public health implications

• Smoking is the most important preventable cause of ill-health and premature death in Scotland. In 2009, there were approximately 13,000 smoking-related deaths.
• The risk of developing smoking-related diseases increases with how long and how much someone has smoked. These risks fall substantially if smoking is stopped, even for long-term smokers.
• The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act came into force on 26 March 2006, banning smoking in enclosed public places such as workplaces, pubs and restaurants.
• In Oct 2007, the minimum age of sale for tobacco was increased from 16 to 18 in both Scotland and England & Wales, and it also became illegal for under 18s to purchase cigarettes.

Adult smoking

• In 2009/10, 24% of adults (26% of men and 23% of women) aged 16 years and over were cigarette smokers in Scotland. This suggests that there are over 1 million adult smokers in Scotland.
• Over the past 30 years, smoking prevalence among adults has generally been higher in Scotland than in both England and Wales.
• Scotland compares favourably to other European Union countries in terms of male adult smoking prevalence, but the position in relation to females is less favourable.

Maternal smoking

• 18% of pregnant women were recorded as smoking during pregnancy in 2010.

Young people smoking

• The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) suggests that more girls than boys smoke. The 2010 survey estimated that, although 3% of both boys and girls smoke at age 13, 14% of girls and 11% of boys were regular smokers by the age of 15. 
• Scotland compares favourably to other European Union countries in terms of smoking prevalence among 15-year-old boys. The picture is less favourable for 15-year-old girls.