The Scottish Government have announced some new anti-smoking measures, mainly in a bid to curb the habit take up in young people. Part of the measures involve the banning of cigarette vending machines. I think this is a progressive step because the machines can’t be policed in the same way as retailers, however, is the retailer display ban progressive or will it, as some of those affected claim, lead to shop closures? And, will the threat of license removal made to retailers who flout the law be taken seriously?

As I’ve said I agree with banning the machines, I also supported the smoking ban, I actually think it doesn’t go far enough in some ways, for instance, in Dundee bus station you obviously can’t smoke in the building but when you’re out side waiting for a bus a smoker can light up wherever they like, I think the ban should extend to the confines of the bus station and not just the buildings.

The thing is, are we doing enough to stop people smoking? Are we trying too hard to prevent rather than cure? As in the previous post, does advertising work? I doubt it. I think more research into the causes of cigarette take up is needed to find out just why some do, some don’t and some do – some of the time.

Here’s a mind map type of thing, again it was done for part of my course at Dundee and the beeb news article on the new measures is HERE