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Fewer smokers in Scotland but still highest rate in UK



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Published Date: 23 January 2008
By Lyndsay Moss
THE number of people smoking has fallen, but Scotland still has the highest percentage of smokers in Britain, new figures have revealed.
Across Britain, the proportion of adults smoking was 22 per cent in 2006 – down from 24 per cent in 2005.

In Scotland, 25 per cent of people were smokers, compared with 20 per cent in Wales and 22 per cent in England.

However rates are falling north of the Border, down from a massive 45 per cent back in 1978.

The figures, from the General Household Survey, also found that smoking was equally spread with 25 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women considering themselves smokers.

But while rates dropped among men between 2005 and 2006 – from 28 per cent – in women they have remained static.

However women smoked fewer cigarettes at an average 13 per day compared with men at an average 15 per day.

Deborah Arnott, director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said governments should be congratulated for the "impressive" drop in smoking.

"However, in order to drive smoking rates down even further it's important that the Government implements a comprehensive tobacco control strategy," she added.



The full article contains 205 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 22 January 2008 9:47 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Tobacco
 
1

Ross Fyffe,

Scotland 23/01/2008 04:16:07
I never ever encourage people to stop smoking, I just like to be able to see if the results of forcing dogs to smoke has the same end point, slow lingering death.

If you smoke you deserve to die like the dogs who die to show what common sense implies we know already.

2

Graeme,

Guangzhou 23/01/2008 07:12:54
Let me guess. You are another of these little men with a barrel chest, beard and no true mates as you have driven them all away from your school days?

Ho hum.


3

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 23/01/2008 09:37:11
So the nazis are winning then.

I noticed they've moved onto drinking now.
4

grafiger,

23/01/2008 09:53:45
#1
Well,well. Aren't we just a ray of *%^$£*& sunshine.
5

G,

dndy 23/01/2008 10:21:20
So the smoking ban hasn't convinced the nicotine-addled addicts?
No surprise there - well it is a shame they probably will have bred before their smoking-accelerated deaths as they are no loss to the gene pool.
6

english charlie,

suffolk 23/01/2008 10:21:31
So the number of smokers has halved since 1978 without a ban, which shows that left to people's own choice they will give up. I fear that the ban could have the opposite effect, because most people do not want to be dictated to.
7

Rob Simpson,

UK 23/01/2008 10:21:57
Surveys like this prove nothing. The more smoking is demonized the more people lie about being smokers in these surveys. The cigarette sales figures are a better indication of smoking rates and iirc they haven't declined.
Oh, and mean little people like #1 can burn in hell. I just wish they'd wear badges so I'd know not to bother spitting on them if I ever spot them on fire.
8

grafiger,

23/01/2008 10:51:01
General Household Survey. – From their web-site:

Fieldwork for the GHS is conducted on a financial year basis, with interviewing taking place continuously throughout the year. A sample of approximately 13,000 addresses is selected each year from the Postcode Address File. All adults aged 16 and over are interviewed in each responding household. Demographic and health information is also collected about children in the household.

So, taking the lowest figures, 22% of adults smoke. 13,000 addresses selected???
These days a large percentage of the population would say “Smoke, me? Perish the thought.”

Interview over, time for another fag. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Rob,#8 is quite right except he fails to mention the imported or black market tobacco.

Statistics like these ought to be taken with a pinch of salt, or, should I say, a puff of smoke.
9

Iain Inverness,

23/01/2008 11:08:46
#1
Smoking Dog experiments.
http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2015046708-6718.html
"The attempt to relate cigarettes to the etiology of lung cancer on the basis of these findings is highly imaginative and. borders on experimental desperation."

Well worth a read.

10

Calum Crubag,

23/01/2008 12:42:37
Funny - the answer to neds who plague us with dangerous anti-social behaviour is to subject them to Saudi style justice according to the likes of Pope Gordon and Fuel Head and other auld bigots.

But, when we take action against these drug users who persist in polluting others with their dangerous anti-social behaviour, we become 'nazis'?

Freedom for smokers = freedom for neds.
11

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 13:11:17
#3, Petrol Head.
These damn Nazis back again.
Wonder when they'll move on to petrol drinkers and other no hopers.
12

Belinda-2,

23/01/2008 13:19:31
Calum, Imposing penalties on people without due process of law is 'Saudi-style' justice (or 'injustice').

I am not in favour of subjecting anyone to beheadings or any other punishment characterised as 'Saudi'. Nor am I in favour of any penalty being delivered on a ned without legal sanction. I can also see the difference between 'neds' and smokers. No report has unequivocally proven secondary smoke to be dangerous. The scientific community is not speaking with one voice on the issue, hence the case is not proven.

The comparison between 'neds' and smokers is absurd. Depriving people of freedom without due process is as close to nazi as we can get. Depriving people of freedom of choice on the issue of social smoking is delivering an injustice to the whole nation, not just the smokers.
13

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 13:20:09
#7,english charlie,suffolk.
I feel chas is being just a tad optimistic, as, whilst total eradication of this sad addiction would be the ideal, there will probably always be a hard core of dedicated refuseniks, spouting their F2C justification to make them feel better.
There is no ban, just increased restrictions. How are petulant chas and other smokers being dictated to? Would he wish to be able to spit as and where he pleased?
14

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 13:42:07
#13, Belinda-2.
Not clear to which "penalties on people without due process of law" Belinda C. alludes, as any financial penalties are covered by the Health Act, 2006, and the equivalent Scottish legislation.
I don't regard smokers as "neds" either, more as misguided compulsive addicts. However, they often do their cause little justice, by being happy to indiscriminately expel their fumes on anyone in their vicinity, and by being careless with their litter and other detritus, in the name of "freedom".
I would agree there is no definitive finding as to the dangers of SHS, but am happy to have that risk minimised by isolating smokers if need be.
People now have a freedom of choice, namely refrain from smoking inside enclosed public spaces, or indulge in the practice elsewhere.
Where is the "injustice to the whole nation"?
15

Belinda-2,

23/01/2008 13:52:52
David, you talk unadulterated rubbish. What right have you to deprive all smokers without reasonable public space in case you might come to grief when there is no conclusive evidence ... the law even outlaws smokers' clubs. This means that the whole nation of smokers have lost any presence in public space at all, and if the lawmakers have their way this will get worse.

As to the whole nation being deprived of choice, that is just the way it works. If you didn't agree with it you wouldn't like it either as you have no more choice than anyone else.
16

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 23/01/2008 14:07:39
You can bring a horse to water but you can't make him or her drink.

These smokers that PERSIST in their filthy habit will eventually die and excruciating death of lung cancer because it usually metastasises to other parts of the body.

If you smokers don't smarten up and stop welcome to a gruesome and very painful death.
17

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 14:23:24
#17,TimW1234,Ottawa, Canada.
"Lemmings" was another parallel I employed on a different forum to describe smokers' fatalistic ambition. Mind you, that went down with the smokers about as well and fatally as the "Titanic".
18

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 14:42:43
#16, Belinda-2.
Not quite, as I've deprived smokers of nothing, whereas the force of democratic law has, but "that is just the way it works".
"the whole nation of smokers have lost any presence in (enclosed) public space at all". I've inserted the material word "enclosed" that Belinda so carelessly omitted.
I have just as much choice as smokers, namely put up or shut up, but infinitely more venues and workplaces that I can visit that are "fug free".
I realise the smoking lobby resent that phrase that I employ so liberally, but you only have to watch old films like "Brief Encounter", where the audience in the film could barely see the screen for smoke to appreciate the description. How times have changed for the better.
19

Ghost Of Scotland Past,

23/01/2008 15:38:17
I am one smug git on this matter I maintain my chosen daily intake of nicotine whilst apparently not smoking
I am not taking in any of the other alleged 3999 harmful substances, and I can apparently smoke legally anywhere I like. I have given up supporting my smoking buddies or trying to conduct reasonable debate with the Nazis they are addicted to their own hate, but sadly we can't ban that can we.
20

Ghost Of Scotland Past,

23/01/2008 15:40:23
19) As I recall Brief Encounter most of the smoke came from steam trains, or the atmospheric smog which persisted at the time.
21

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 23/01/2008 16:24:06
David from New Mills has woken up again and as a result we have to suffer his garbage and insults.

David,

I've told you once before not to bother us again unless you have an argument to put forward. All you can do is insult people. If you think you shouldn't be classified as a nazi in light of your rude comments about those who chose to smoke then put up! If you can't put up, shut up!
22

english charlie,

suffolk 23/01/2008 17:12:20
#14 David of few friend from pleasentville. You say that there is no ban. Why then is it called a 'smoking ban'?
23

english charlie,

suffolk 23/01/2008 17:25:57
#14. re the last comment, yes in your face. That would please me greatly.
24

grafiger,

23/01/2008 17:51:24
Lighten up chaps. David is only one of many unfortinate "Lifes More Forgettable Characters."
Let him rave on, just by-pass his posts. He'll go away eventually. Remember, we are probably his only friends or, at least, the only ones who listen to him
25

grafiger,

23/01/2008 17:53:21
Sorry, David, a slip of the finger, before you get your dictionary out: unfortunate - not unfortinate.
26

english charlie,

suffolk 23/01/2008 18:00:49
grafiger. Another mistake. Thank god we don't have to 'listen' to him. That's why he has few friends.
27

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 18:53:06
#21, Ghost Of Scotland Past.
If GoSP knew the film better, he might recall that the two main characters, played by Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson, had an illicit tryst in the smoke filled cinema, hence my allusion.
Smoke from steam trains, like the killer smogs of the 50's and smoking in enclosed public spaces have been banished to the "trash cans of history".
28

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 18:57:02
#22, Petrol Head.
Ph can huff and puff without consequence as much as he pleases. As I've already stated, I will not be censored by his ilk. He can, of course, continue to close his eyes, ears and mind, and continue being in self denial.
29

David from New Mills,

Pleasantville, U.K. 23/01/2008 19:02:23
#23/24 english charlie,suffolk.
A misnomer by those careless with language. Chas should note the spelling of Pleasantville as above.
Chas Winfield's comment at #24 speaks volumes about his true character. No wonder F2C is a lost cause.
30

english charlie,

suffolk 23/01/2008 19:10:50
#30 David of few friends from pleasantville. Bit of advice. Get out a bit more, lighten up and get a sense of humour, then you may find a friend. Your only friend Rollo has forsaken you. It was stupid comment that deserved an honest answer.
31

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 19:12:03
#25/26, grafiger.
If David is so very forgettable, why does he enjoy so much resentment and vilification from the smoking lobby? Points getting home boys and girls?
Only time will tell whether David or the sad, delusional puffers and wheezers will "go away" first, from whatever cause.
32

mandyv,

banitland 23/01/2008 19:18:11
How does that work then, tobacco share have gone up?
Is this the new drug choice now -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/7053214.stm
Tuesday, 23 October 2007, 05:02 GMT 06:02 UK
Once the scourge of sink estates in the UK's largest cities, crack cocaine has now spread all over the UK, according to a senior police officer.

The drug is highly addictive, blights lives, and destroys communities - and according to Sean Price, Chief Constable of Cleveland, use is now at its highest ever level.

Mr Price, who has nearly 30 years in the force, told an investigation by BBC File On 4: "This is the third time since I have been in the police service that crack cocaine has emerged as the drug of choice."
It is clear that there are very few parts of the UK that haven't experienced some levels of crack cocaine abuse Sean Price, Chief Constable of Cleveland
He added: "I think this probably the highest level of usage I have seen in those three times."
Can people work when they are on that stuff?
I have not seen any adverts for this new drug choice?
Strange it is so popular, not surprised it on the increase though. When you throw millions at persecuting one minority, you have to cut down somewhere.

8th August 2006 the HSE in their document OC 255/15 article9 state
" HSE cannot produce epidemiological evidence to link levels of exposure to second hand smoke to the raised risk of contacting specific diseases".

Has that heart attack study been peer reviewed yet? that should be interesting.
freedom2choose.info for tolerant non-smokers and smokers alike.


33

David from New Mills,

Fug free Pleasantville, somewhere in the U.K. 23/01/2008 19:24:22
#27 & 31, chas w.
Chas is free to continue wearing his earplugs to blot out the noise of evolution.
A sense of humour is a quality noticeably lacking in the F2C and fellow travellers' camp.
He doesn't seem to appreciate there are many Rollos, Tim Ws, James Donalds et al, who realise which way the wind of change continues to blow. Pity he doesn't.
His "honest answer" was a most welcome display of his true colours, but perhaps he's just running a bit short of constructive counter arguments, and feels attempts at offensive remarks are some kind of substitute for a reasoned response.
34

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 23/01/2008 21:57:44
David,

If you think refering to people's commentsin the third person somehow gives you an aura of intellect, you are sadly wrong.

Since when have I tried to censor you? I don't believe in censorship---in any way shape or form. All I'm asking is that when you post you form constructive arguments rather than belting out the same old antagonistic rubbish.

I've put down several points today---one of which is the subject of freedom of choice. Either tell me I'm wrong and why you think I'm wrong or shut up.
35

David from New Mills,

U.K. 23/01/2008 22:35:00
#35, Petrol Man.
Per his #22, "I've told you once before not to bother us again unless you have an argument to put forward." and "If you can't put up, shut up!"
This sounds to my simple mind like an attempt to suppress my expressing my opinions or views by attempted censorship.
If p.h. could highlight the several points he thinks he has made on this thread, quoting posting numbers, I'll tell him why I believe him to be wrong, with reasons. Till then, I've no intention of "shutting up".
I believe it was in Nazi Germany that tracts and opinions not approved by the State were publicly burned, in the hope of suppressing dissent. That attempt at censorship failed in the long run too.
36

jerrymanders,

Is it me or is it stuffy in here? 23/01/2008 23:30:40
This is a non-smoking site.
37

Islanddude,

Sheffield 24/01/2008 02:19:01
Although a non-smoker, I would rather die a slow, miserable, gut-wrenching death than listen to the drivel from Ross Fyffe, sincerely posted as #1 when he is completely steeped in #2.
38

Islanddude,

Sheffield 24/01/2008 02:22:21
A parting shot before bedtime, the fact is that if you glamourise or make something illegal, you will drive the underage to it in droves. Whether you want to admit it or not, putting a prohibition on something makes the unenlightened flock to it. So, in essence, you are forcing the younger crowd to do it to prove they are non-conformist. All you ASHites, sleep well at night, because you have given yourselfs a fight to fight until your last, smoke-free breath.
39

Islanddude,

The World 24/01/2008 02:28:03
#17, WE ALL DIE, GET OVER IT. I would rather have the right to choose how and why than be dictated to by someone who doesn't know me and doesn't care, only want to win a battle but does not understand the cause. From a non-smoker, BTW.
40

Islanddude,

Uk, Sheffield , The Real World 24/01/2008 02:32:50
So, David from New Mills: You believe in only one world and social order, do you? What if you could choose to be "fug-free" just like others could choose to be "fug-filles"? What is wrong if, as you intimate, mis-guided individuals are left to their own choices, to walk into a room filled with fug? Do you deny them the right to do so? As a non-smoker, if you really feel this way, you belong in the closest communist country. Oh, by the way, communism is dying world-wide, so your choices are gettin slimmer by the moment. Get a life, and get in control of your own and leave mine alone.
41

english charlie,

suffolk 24/01/2008 08:44:37
#36 David of few friends from Pleasantville make another admission, in that he has a simple mind, which explains a lot.
#33 mandyv. You high lighted how crack cocaine has become more attractive. This is because it is illegal and the same will happen with smoking. Already there has been an increase in the number of teenage girls, in Ireland, taking up smoking since the smoking ban.
42

David from New Mills,

U.K. 24/01/2008 10:44:09
#42,english charlie,suffolk.
Chas should perhaps come to realise that simple things tend to work the best, and are less prone to being screwed up.
Smoking cigarettes is not "banned" in the western world. Smokers, like lemmings, have the F2C whether to take up the sad habit or not.
43

David from New Mills,

U.K. 24/01/2008 11:03:35
#41,Islanddude,Uk, Sheffield , The "Real" World.
Kelham Islander is making some strange presumptions about "only one world and social order". I am indeed quite free now to enter fug free enclosed public spaces, whereas "fugophiles" (I think that is what K.I. meant to say?) can fill their own private spaces to their hearts's content. Must remember the term!
Not sure how the communist label comes about, tho' it makes a change from Petrol Head's normal "Nazi control freakery" allegations.
Perhaps Kelham Islander was simply having too many pints of Pale Rider in the early hours?
44

Ghost Of Scotland Past,

24/01/2008 13:53:19
Lemmings for your information do not actually follow each
other jumping of cliffs at a given time in their life cycle. That was a Disney fabrication. What is not a fabrication is for obsessive, kneejerk reactionaries to seek to ban everything they don't like, or can't understand.
45

David from New Mills,

U.K. sans lemmings. 24/01/2008 18:55:35
45, GoSP.
The lemmings analogy or "myth" existed long before any Disney imagery, with which I'm not even familiar.
This calm kneed non-reactionary has no desire to ban anything in sight, as he's neither a megalomaniac nor a xenophobic. Ça, c'est compris?
46

english charlie,

suffolk 24/01/2008 19:09:06
#45. Small minded David even believes that the Titanic purposely sailed into the iceberg. How sad.
47

David from New Mills,

U.K. 24/01/2008 19:43:46
#47, english charlie,suffolk.
Could Spit the Dog please attempt to justify his assertion? Perhaps he believes in Doctor Who? Sad little man!
48

english charlie,

suffolk 25/01/2008 09:28:57
#48 Lemmings, Titanic and now dogs and Doctor Who. Oh, David.
49

David from New Mills,

U.K. 25/01/2008 10:40:14
#49, chas w.
Only one dog, namely Spit, and I thought chas might have watched the recent Doctor Who episode featuring the Titanic, if only to swoon over Kylie Minogue.
And he still hasn't managed to explain his suicidal iceberg allusion, any more than accusing me of giving "dozens" of causes on another thread.
Oh, dozy chas, time he gave up.
50

mandyv,

25/01/2008 18:10:32
39# and 42# I absolutely agree, about the young crowd and the ban making it more appealling. Many others can see that also, just the fug haters. It is where the under 18s are going to be getting them from now that bothers me. Those who will or want to smoke, WILL find a way to get them. Joe blogs on the street will be offering them much more than ciggies.
freedom2choose.info for tolerant non-smokers and smokers alike -

Intolerance leads to hatred, based on lies and misinformation. That is not healthy for our children or Countries.
51

David from New Mills,

U.K. 25/01/2008 19:34:52
#51, Mandy v. Cambs.
If Mandy v. professes to be so very concerned about the welfare of our youth, perhaps she could do no better than to set them an example to aspire to. After all, parental example was the main influence in my NOT becoming addicted to the dreadful entrapment of nicotinism.
"That is not healthy for our children or Countr(y)?" ies.

52

The Fly Fifer,

Fife 25/01/2008 23:21:03
smokers are weak willed, slow mentally and hoopefully will help promote Darwinism
53

grafiger,

26/01/2008 09:55:33
53
And some can actually spell!!!

 

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