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Brave Lungs

by | 11th, November 2004

‘REMEMBER Scotland The Brave? Sure you do, all that fearless sitting on thistles, caber-tossing and skirt-wearing bravado.

Smoking is so uncool

Well, now forget it. It’s being rebranded as Scotland The Sensible.

If William Wallace were around today, he’d less fight the English than he would offer to have a televised debate on the real issues.

Upon seeing that tireless spider, Robert the Bruce would scream at the top of his lungs, before plugging in his Dustbuster to vacuum up the wee beastie.

Scotland has changed and it is ready to change some more, as we read in the Guardian that Scottish ministers have voted to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces.

By spring 2006, anyone having a hearty drink of Highland spring water with a cheeky dash of tropical lemon will have to do so without the aid of a cigarette as all pubs, clubs, restaurants and workplaces become smoke-free havens of health.

But before the English, Welsh and Irish laugh at the hard man of Scotland gone soft, the Independent would like you to know that the Scots will have the last laugh – and it will not be croaky and result in the hacking up of a chunk of phlegm-coated lung.

Smoking is bad for you. One in four deaths in Scotland “is said to be directly attributed to smoking-related illness”, says the paper.

And there’s a fiscal cost as well as a human one, as the financial burden on the health service is put in excess of £200m.

Sure, the argument exists that the massive haul of cash the Government gathers in from its addiction to tax on tobacco should more than cover this burden, but it’s not one the Scottish legislative wants to hear.

Indeed, the new legislation contains parts to get in some more money from the hounded smoker, and publicans or employees who fail to enforce the law face fines of up to £2,500.

Individuals who puff away in enclosed public spaces will also be fined by way to fixed penalty notice slapped on their glasses, should they wear any, or on their foreheads, should they not.

There is a maximum fine of £1,000 for persistent offenders, although the paper fails to say how much the initial fines will be.

But the heart of the matter is that the Scots can look forward to cleaner air in their entertainment venues – and air you can cut with a knife at home as they struggle to inhale enough nicotine before daring to venture out the front door…’



Posted: 11th, November 2004 | In: Uncategorized Comment | TrackBack | Permalink