Foysol Choudhury MSP is backing a health charity’s national No Smoking Day campaign, urging Lothian residents who smoke to make attempts to stop and win through improvements in their physical health, mental wellbeing and finances.
The MSP is supporting ASH Scotland’s ‘Quit and Win’ campaign, which is highlighting that giving up smoking increases opportunities to live a healthier life through improving mental health and decreasing the risks of developing coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some cancers.
The charity advises that an average smoker who gives up tobacco on No Smoking Day (Wednesday 12 March) would save £3,332 within 12 months, money that could be better spent on a holiday or something special for themselves or their loved ones.
Alan Dalziel, Senior Policy Manager for ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco is still the biggest cause of preventable death in Scotland but people across Lothian can have a brighter future by quitting smoking, and we’re delighted Foysol Choudhury MSP is backing our campaign to raise awareness of the free help that is available on the NHS.
“Most people in Scotland who give up smoking do so without quit aids but, for those who need support, nicotine replacement patches, gums or lozenges that are backed by established evidence and safety controls can help your chances of success, along with free specialist health advice from Quit Your Way services.
“Reach out to Quit Your Way today as their personalised support to give up smoking could be vital in helping you to improve your physical health, mental wellbeing and personal finances.”
Commenting, Foysol Choudhury MSP stated:“I am pleased to be supporting ASH Scotland’s ‘Quit and Win’ campaign and encourage my constituents who smoke but want to give up to try for the first time, or try again, to quit smoking and gain a range of health benefits as well as the chance to save your money when you live a tobacco-free life.”
A leading European tobacco control expert is encouraging elected representatives in Scotland and across the UK to dismiss tobacco industry attempts to weaken measures in the UK Government’s four-nations Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is progressing through Westminster.
The call comes ahead of Lilia Olefir, Director of the Smoke Free Partnership (a European coalition of tobacco control non-governmental organisations), leading a discussion as part of ASH Scotland’s Learning Week yesterday (10 February) about the importance of regulating emerging addictive and health harming tobacco and nicotine products.
Alarm is being raised by public health experts as tobacco companies including Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Altria have moved into the nicotine pouch market, which is estimated to be worth $2 billion globally, through developing their own products or acquiring companies which produce nicotine pouches.
Nicotine pouches, which are placed under the top lip, are teabag-like products filled with a fibrous white powder and infused with nicotine and ingredients such as sweeteners and flavourings that are released during use.
A health risk assessment on nicotine pouches by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment concluded that high levels of nicotine, which has strong effects on the cardiovascular system, is a health risk. Pouches present high risks for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with cardiovascular disease.
By fighting Big Tobacco, these women are protecting public health and empowering women and girls to stand up for their right to a healthier future. Here are their messages to fellow advocates—urging them to keep exposing Big Tobacco and strengthening global efforts to… pic.twitter.com/T369V747yY
Lilia Olefir, who is also the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control Coordinator for Europe and won the 2024 Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence, said: “The tobacco industry is strategically marketing new nicotine to target young people, claiming that novel products have lower health risks, while simultaneously lobbying to avoid regulation on them for as long as possible.
“The rise in use of novel products by young people is extremely alarming and that’s why updating legislation is vital to address concerns about young people’s access to emerging tobacco and nicotine products.
“Annual tobacco industry spending on lobbying activities in the EU is at an all-time high of €19 million and their interference remains the largest obstacle to the implementation of effective tobacco control policies to protect children and young people.
“It’s not a surprise ASH Scotland’s analysis has found many concerning industry-connected arguments against restrictions that can be enabled by the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which parliamentarians would be wise to ignore for the benefit of younger people’s health.”
In March 2023, Belgium became the first nation in the EU to ban nicotine pouches, followed by the Netherlands a month later, and France decided in February 2025 to introduce a ban.
In Scotland and across the UK, nicotine pouches are currently not covered by tobacco or e-cigarette regulations so are not required to adhere to the same controls on advertising and retail displays as tobacco nor age of sale restrictions that are in place for cigarettes and nicotine containing vapes.
Strong measures to restrict the advertising and promotion of nicotine pouches will be introduced in the event of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill being passed.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “The evidence presented by the Smoke Free Partnership and ASH Scotland’s analysis suggests that the tobacco industry is aiming to attract youths to use its new addictive and health harming products such as nicotine pouches to maintain a sizeable customer base in the UK and across Europe to enable the generation of huge profits into the future, at a considerable cost to the health of our young people.
“We have seen a disturbing increase in marketing campaigns promoting nicotine pouches in Scotland in recent months, including the provision of free samples in major train stations and a proliferation of shop window posters which are seen by children and young people.
“We welcome the robust measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which proposes to restrict the advertising and promotions of nicotine pouches and vapes to reduce their visibility and availability and protect the health of children now and of future generations.
“We strongly urge elected representatives in Scotland and across the UK to reject the destructive interference by the tobacco industry and its profit-motivated business associates who are not public health stakeholders and should never be treated as such.”
People inEdinburgh who have successfully given up smoking in the last couple of years are being encouraged by a campaigning health charity to share their stories about how they managed to quit.
Ahead of No Smoking Day which takes place on 12 March, ASH Scotland is urging Edinburgh residents who have stopped using tobacco to share what motivated their quit smoking attempts and if they gave up through sheer personal determination or used the free support that is available on the NHS from local Quit Your Way services or pharmacies.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Ahead of No Smoking Day on 12 March, we would love to hear successful quit smoking stories from people in Edinburgh about how they have started to live tobacco-free in the last two or three years.
“We are excited to hear everyone’s inspirational stories, which could encourage others to quit smoking for the first time, or try again, to benefit from a healthier future and enjoy spending the money they have saved in other ways.”
ASH Scotland is tackling tobacco head-on by campaigning to reduce the harms caused by smoking. For more information, follow the health charity’s social media channels on Instagram and Facebook.
ASH Scotland is encouraging people in Edinburgh who smoke to aim for a tobacco-free 2025 to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
The health charity’s call is part of its campaign promoting NHS Scotland’s free, expert stop-smoking support services.
Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful steps a person can take to lower their risk of long-term smoking-related illnesses, and also save money.
When people decide to make give up smoking their New Year’s resolution, not only will they find their health can improve but also an average smoker can save in the region of £250 by the end of January.
60% of people in Scotland who have given up smoking did not use anything to aid their quit attempts while 25% used Nicotine Replacement Therapy such as gum, patches and lozenges.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco can be highly addictive so, if you’ve tried to quit before and gone back to smoking, don’t be discouraged. Each attempt helps you to understand better what methods work best for you.
“Giving up tobacco is the most important step you can take to improve your health, your finances, and the wellbeing of you and those around you. And you don’t have to face quitting alone.
“This New Year, we encourage people to reach out to local stop-smoking services or the national Quit Your Way Scotland service. With their specialist support, you’ll gain the confidence, tools, and motivation you need to have a tobacco-free 2025.”
For tips and resources to help you quit smoking, visit QuitYourWay.Scot or call the Quit Your Way Scotland free helpline on 0800 84 84 84.
ASH Scotland is encouraging youth groups in Edinburgh to join its new Youth Conversations Hub where learning and resources on smoking and vaping are being shared to enable young people to make confident, informed decisions to protect their long-term health.
The charity will be hosting a series of in-person and online events via the hub in upcoming months to give people working or volunteering for youth organisations opportunities to connect and further their understanding of how health harming tobacco and related products such as e-cigarettes affect young people.
The hub is also providing a space for young people to share their views and experiences of smoking and vaping through its youth survey which is running until Friday 29 November.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “We are delighted to launch our new Youth Conversations Hub which can equip youth group organisers and volunteers in Edinburghand across Scotland to share and obtain ideas about starting conversations with young people, to increase their knowledge about smoking and vaping so that they can make informed choices to protect their physical and mental health.
“We hope that, by signing up to the hub, youth organisations can support local young people to become more aware of the tobacco and e-cigarette industries’ marketing tactics targeting children, and will inspire youngsters to exercise their rights to live healthy lives by rejecting smoking or vaping.
“ASH Scotland believes that is vitally important that young people’s views are heard, so we are running a survey through youth organisations which join the hub so that youngsters themselves can directly drive the action that is needed to ensure Scotland becomes a tobacco-free generation by the target of 2034.”
ASH Scotland is encouraging organisations and groups in Edinburgh to sign up for Scotland’s Charter for Tobacco-free Generation and help their communities and the country progress towards reducing smoking rates to 5% or fewer by 2034.
Since launching in 2015, more than 500 supporters Scotland have endorsed the health charity’s Charter through taking positive action in their communities to tackle the harms caused by tobacco and related products such as e-cigarettes.
Groups in Edinburgh interested in signing the Charter are asked to support its goal by pledging to take a two or more actions available under the themes of raising vital awareness about the harms caused by tobacco and related products; supporting stop smoking opportunities for staff, volunteers and service users; introducing a smoke and aerosol free environment; preventing tobacco companies’ promotions of their harmful products or helping to reduce youth uptake of tobacco or vapes.
There is also an option to make a higher level of commitment to become a Charter Champion and gain access to the charity’s engaging resources, special events and networking opportunities.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “With 10 years to go for Scotland to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2034, we are inviting community groups across Edinburgh to sign up to support our Charter and play a vital role in reducing the harms caused by tobacco and related products.
“We look forward to welcoming local organisations in Edinburgh, especially those working with children and young people, who are committed to improving health and wellbeing in their communities to work with us towards a tobacco-free future.”
To sign up for ASH Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation and receive a welcome pack, visit www.ashscotland.org.uk/charter
ASH Scotland is encouraging secondary school teachers in Edinburgh to use a new resource pack as part of cross-curricular learning to inspire young people to make confident, informed decisions to protect their long-term health by not taking up smoking or vaping.
The Tobacco-free Schools pack, which features 28 engaging activities that can be used in group lessons, is being launched by the charity at a time when the major public health issues of youth smoking and, increasingly, vaping are causing great concern for teachers and other school staff working with children.
The pack provides up-to-date facts and statistics covering a range of topics such as ‘Understanding addiction’, ‘Smoking and mental health’, ‘Are e-cigarettes safe?’, ‘Being confidently nicotine-free’ and ‘Cigarette butts and e-cigarette waste’ to support the delivery of personal and social education classes or for classwork across various subjects.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “With concerned teachers across Scotland regularly contacting us for information and advice about tobacco and vapes, it is important that those working with young people in Edinburgh can access robust, evidence-based tailored resources to engage and empower youngsters to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
“We are pleased to launch our new Tobacco-free Schools resource pack which is specially designed to be an effective learning aid to enable teachers to facilitate classwork to help equip pupils to increase their knowledge about the risks associated with both smoking and vaping.
“The pack’s interactive resources offer opportunities for teachers to promote a smoke and vape-free culture on school campuses through building the confidence of students to prevent peer pressure from steering them in a harmful direction and, instead, make positive choices to protect their physical and mental health by not smoking or vaping.”
Take a look at our new briefing on smoking and mental health. Read about how they are linked, the inequalities caused by smoking and how people who quit tobacco often experience reduced anxiety and depression.
ASH Scotland has welcomed the new UK Government’s commitment in the King’s Speech today to reintroduce a UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill that will progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and limit the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of health charity, ASH Scotland, said: “We warmly welcome the new UK Government’s commitment to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes, which would mean those extremely health damaging products are incrementally cleared from retail space, and for the sale and marketing of vapes to be restricted.
“It is heartening to see that the new government is hitting the ground running by focusing on prevention to help keep people healthy, which is vital if we are to continue driving down use of tobacco – the biggest preventable killer in Scotland, causing more than 8,000 deaths a year.
“Tobacco industry promotions have lured youngsters into using their addictive, harmful products for decades and the same is happening with e-cigarettes, so we need government to work at pace to stop the targeted marketing of sweet flavoured, brightly coloured vapes and packaging aimed at children, by implementing strong measures as a matter of urgency to protect the health of young people.
“We urge cross party MPs to work to ensure the swift progress of the legislation to reach the statute book and for the governments in both Westminster and Holyrood to use all available powers to eradicate the damage that profit-centred multi-national tobacco corporations are inflicting on people’s lives, and enable Scotland to attain a tobacco-free generation by 2034.”
CALL FOR END TO VAPES MARKETING TARGETING YOUNG PEOPLE
ASH Scotland is marking World No Tobacco Day by urging youth groups in Edinburgh to join the health charity’s campaign calling for the end of vapes advertising and marketing being targeted at children and young people.
‘Protecting young people from tobacco industry interference’ has been chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the theme for this year’s campaign.
ASH Scotland is aiming to amplify the voices of youth groups and youngsters who want to stop the marketing of sweet flavoured, brightly coloured vapes and their promotion by organisations funded by tobacco firms targeting young people.
The charity believes concerns by the next generation of voters about marketing luring young people to start using and becoming addicted to health harming vapes should be heard loud and clear by all candidates in the General Election.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “In supporting WHO’s World No Tobacco Day 2024 campaign in Scotland, we are keen to hear from children’s and youth groups in Edinburgh who want to speak out about predatory tobacco industry marketing tactics promoting vapes and creating a new wave of addiction.
“For decades, tobacco industry promotions lured young people into starting to use their addictive and harmful products and, in recent years, the same is now happening with vapes.
“Vapes contain high levels of nicotine, which is very addictive, as well as toxic chemicals that have not been safety tested for breathing in and can damage lungs over time.
“We want to support young people in Edinburgh to raise their concerns about vape marketing that is targeted at them and their friends, and there is no better opportunity than during the General Election campaign!”
