A HALVING of smoking rates in the two decades since Scotland’s landmark ban “shows that bold, preventative action works,” say health officials.

In a report marking 20 years since Scotland became the first part of Britain to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces, Public Health Scotland (PHS) said today that smoking rates have halved in that time, saving thousands of lives, protecting non-smokers from passive smoking, and cutting hospitalisations and deaths from heart attacks and strokes.

PHS public health consultant Dr Rishma Maini said: “Scotland’s smoking ban shows that bold, preventative action works.

“We now have an opportunity to apply that same ambition to other major drivers of ill health, including [being] overweight and obesity.

“If we get this right, we can deliver the same scale of change again, improving health and wellbeing.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto added: “Banning smoking in indoor public places was a landmark moment for Scotland and one we can all be proud of.

“To support people to quit we fund NHS smoking cessation services across Scotland, with more than 30,000 quit attempts recorded last year with their help.”