There has been an increasing tendency by citizens of Scotland to give up smoking on a voluntary basis. If this healthy trend were to continue, it would mean a less trouble for the Government that hopes to impose a public ban on smoking the following year.
The number of people who call up the smoking help line has infact increased by a margin of over 2000 in the current year. This is much more promising compared to the figures in 2003 where merely 40,000 members availed the service. The number of people in favour of the ban has infact nearly doubled over the past few months.Inspired by this observation, the health officials are formulating novel guidelines for effective protection against passive smoking. The imposition of the public ban on smoking on March 26th, is hoped to reduce the incidence of diseases related to smoking, thereby enhancing productivity. In addition, Scotland can credit itself to the first part of UK to prohibit smoking in public places.
While the Government is busy working towards framing policies that would enable organisations contribute to help employees curb the habit, the ban would not be applicable to residential accommodation. The Scottish Executive initiative would be directed towards measures to help minimise or prevent exposure of staff to smoke on domiciliary visits.
Individuals who breach the ban by smoking in public places would carry a fine of £50. Surprisingly, permitting passive smoking in prohibited places will carry a £200 fine. Helping someone else quit the smoking habit is indeed the greatest help that can be rendered to benefit not only the smoker but also their near and dear ones.
