British Nursing News Online

WWW.BNN-ONLINE.CO.UK

Thursday, 18 April 2024

Sunday, 28 August 2005 12:05

BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk

Illegal smokers targeted by smoking hotline

A hotline is to be set up in Scotland to encourage members of the public to report illegal smokers in a bid to enforce the ban on smoking in public places, The Sunday Herald has reported.

The “national compliance line” is being supported by the Scottish Executive after MSPs passed the new smoking legislation earlier this year.

Callers will pay a local rate charge for the call and complaints will be investigated, with fines of £50 for anyone caught smoking in bars, restaurants and similar establishments, and stiffer penalties for employers.

However, critics say the plan will turn Scotland into a ‘nation of grasses’ and turn families and friends against each other.

Neil Rafferty, the Scottish spokesman for smokers’ rights group Forest, said: “To encourage people to tell tales is a really sad development. A clipe line is about turning us against each other. This is about victimising smokers and making them feel bad about themselves. Not everyone is a health freak.”

But a spokesman for the Executive said hotlines had worked in countries where a smoking ban has already been introduced.

“We are in discussion with local authority environmental health departments with regard to proposals for a national compliance line,” he said. “No detailed decisions have been taken.

“However, we are aware that this was particularly successful when it was introduced in Ireland.”

- 0 comments on this story

Sponsored by The Nursing Portal