Why is this National Indicator important?
Smoking has an enormous influence on the health of people in Scotland. Despite recent reductions in smoking levels, and early evidence of the positive impact this has on people's health, there are still relatively high levels of smoking in Scotland, particularly amongst certain groups of individuals. It is particularly important to reduce levels of smoking amongst the young, the deprived and pregnant women.
What will influence this National Indicator?
Smoking-uptake is influenced by a variety of social and cultural factors. So, if we are to reduce smoking levels, we need a comprehensive, broad-based, multi-agency programme of action, as set out in the Scottish Government's tobacco action plan 'A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland' (2004) and the smoking prevention action plan "Scotland's Future is Smoke-free" (2008).
This involves a number of key issues. Firstly, making cigarettes and other tobacco products less available through, for example, effective enforcement of tobacco sales law. Secondly, making it less attractive, particularly to children and young people. This can be achieved through bans on tobacco advertising and smoking in public places, and measures to educate and promote healthy lifestyles. We can also make cigarettes less affordable through, for example, effective fiscal policy. We must also, of course, have the support mechanisms in place to help smokers to quit.
What is the Government's role?
The strategic framework for tobacco control is set in 'A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland' (2004) and reinforced in 'Better Health, Better Care' (2007). The aim will be to build on progress made in shifting cultural attitudes to smoking, particularly through: the smoke-free laws; by continued investment in tobacco control activity, including over £15m a year on smoking cessation services and measures to stop young people smoking in the first place. The Scottish Government's smoking prevention action plan: Scotland 's Future is Smoke-free published in May 2008 setting out an ambitious programme of measures designed specifically to persuade and encourage children and young people not to smoke. This included the new and updated legislative controls set out in the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 to ban cigarette displays in shops and to regulate the sale of tobacco products by, for example, introducing a tobacco retailers registration scheme and banning self-service tobacco sales from vending machines. To build on the action taken to date, the Scottish Government is committed to publishing a new comprehensive robust tobacco control strategy for Scotland. The strategy will focus on prevention and cessation and include ambitious targets for reducing smoking across Scotland. It is anticipated the new strategy will be published in 2012.
How is Scotland performing?
Smoking among adults has gradually declined from a level of 30.7% in 1999 to 24.2% in 2010. From 2007 to 2009 there was a fairly steady decrease from 25.7% to 24.3%, which levelled off in 2010 (24.2%).
The data for this chart is available at the bottom of the page
Source: Scottish Household Survey
Criteria for recent change
This evaluation is based on: any difference within +/- 0.5 percentage points of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. A decrease of 0.5 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving; whereas an increase of 0.5 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening.
Further Information
For information on general methodological approach, please click here.
Scotland Performs Technical Note
Who are our partners?
NHS Scotland
Local Authorities
Related Strategic Objectives
Healthier
Wealthier and Fairer