SALES of cigarettes in
Scotland have increased since the ban on smoking
in public places was introduced earlier this
year, confounding predictions by politicians and
health experts.
Despite expectations that there would be a
drop in the number of smokers and in the amount
of tobacco being smoked, Scots are now buying
61,000 more packets of cigarettes every week
than before the ban was introduced.
The trend — which
reflects the experiences of other countries that
have banned smoking in public — is believed to
be partly driven by people smoking more at home.
Other countries also saw a rise in the number
of young people smoking because the habit came
to be seen more as an act of rebellion.
This month a study by Dundee University said
that bar workers had experienced health
benefits. However, if people are smoking more at
home since the ban, children who live with
smokers may be suffering instead. Every year
more than 17,000 children under the age of five
are admitted to hospital in Britain suffering
from illnesses related to passive smoking in the
home.
A separate study at Edinburgh University is
looking at the impact of the ban on children.
Public health experts said that the new figures
were a cause for concern.
“It’s extremely plausible that more people
may be smoking at home after the ban,” said Phil
Hanlon, professor of public health at Glasgow
University.
“If that’s the case, it’s very worrying. The
evidence is accruing to support the fact that
smoking at home damages the health of others in
the home.”
The figures, provided by the Scottish Grocers
Federation, show a rise of almost 5% in sales of
cigarettes from shops. The Scottish Licensed
Trade Association (SLTA) said cigarette machine
sales in pubs and clubs remained unchanged.
Scots spent on average £6.3m a week on
cigarettes before the ban, according to the
survey. After a slight dip, sales increased to
reach higher levels than before the ban at £6.6m
— or 1.3m packets — on average a week. Spain and
Ireland have seen similar effects.
“Many members were concerned that the ban
would see a drop in cigarette sales, which make
up 20% of business at convenience stores. But
that certainly hasn’t happened,” said John
Drummond, chief executive of the Scottish
Grocers’ Federation.
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the SLTA,
added: “These figures appear to confirm what we
predicted all along; that the ban would not lead
to a decline in sales of cigarettes. The
government and anti-smoking campaigners insisted
it would. Now they are backpeddling and saying
it was only ever about protecting people from
passive smoking. It is quite clear that it has
not delivered what they said it would.”
The ban has been hailed a success by the
Scottish executive. When it was introduced Andy
Kerr, the health minister, predicted: “As well
as protecting people from the harmful effects of
second-hand smoke it will help many people to
give up smoking. Evidence from Ireland proves
this.”
However in Ireland cigarette sales are now
higher than before the ban, which was introduced
in March 2004.
Maureen Moore, the chief executive of Ash
Scotland — the anti-smoking lobby group — called
on the Scottish executive to find new ways to
cut smoking levels. More than 25% of the adult
population — one million people — in Scotland
smoke.
“Any increase in sales of cigarettes is bad
news for public health,” said Moore. “If
cigarette sales are genuinely on the increase
then the government needs to raise the price of
tobacco further and consider new ways in which
to target smokers with better smoking cessation
choices.”
Chris Ogden of the Tobacco Manufacturers’
Association said the figures showed there is a
core of smokers who will smoke no matter what,
adding: “Like in Ireland, Scottish smokers have
adjusted to the ban. It’s a matter of personal
choice.”
