Scotland has sustained major reductions in secondhand smoke exposure since introducing smoke-free legislation 20 years ago, but progress has stalled with nearly one in four non-smoking adults still exposed on any given day.
The study, published today (25th March) by researchers at the University of Stirling and Public Health Scotland, analysed saliva samples from the Scottish Health Survey between 1998 and 2024 to track population exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.
The findings show that levels of cotinine – a chemical the body produces after exposure to nicotine – in the saliva fell by 95.7% over the 26-year period. At the same time, the share of non-smoking adults with no cotinine detectable in their saliva increased six-fold, from 12.5% in 1998 to 77.6% in 2024.
However, the research reveals that most of this improvement occurred in the immediate aftermath of the 2006 legislation, which banned smoking in enclosed public spaces across Scotland. Between 2011 and 2024, both metrics showed little evidence of further change.
As the figures show, despite the improvement, 22.4% of non-smokers are still being exposed to cigarette smoke on any given day.
Professor Sean Semple, lead author from the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, said: ‘Scotland’s smoke-free legislation has delivered extraordinary public health gains. The scale of the reduction in second-hand smoke exposure since 2006 is remarkable and shows how effective bold legislation can be.
‘Scotland should be immensely proud of this achievement, and we should celebrate our success in clearing the air and improving health for the millions of people who previously had to breathe second-hand smoke at work and in leisure settings. We’ve had twenty years now where the majority of people in Scotland no longer breathe the toxins from cigarette smoke during their daily lives.
‘But nearly a quarter of non-smokers are still exposed to tobacco smoke, and many of these exposures are happening at work – particularly in outdoor hospitality, transport settings and during visits to private homes. No one should be forced to breathe in tobacco smoke while doing their job.
‘Although exposure levels today are typically much lower than before 2006, repeated low-level exposure still carries health risks. If we want to achieve Scotland’s ambition of reducing smoking to below 5% by 2034, we need renewed focus on protecting workers and tackling the widening inequalities in home exposure.’
The study also examined self-reported household smoking rules, finding that the proportion of smoke-free homes has increased from 75.2% in 2012 to 90.2% in 2024. But within this there is a widening inequality: smoking in the home is now ten times more common in Scotland’s most deprived areas compared to the least deprived, a gap that has doubled over the past 12 years.
The researchers estimate that around 380,000 homes in Scotland have become smoke-free since 2012. However, with overall adult smoking rates now at 14%, and one in five workers in the UK still reporting exposure to secondhand smoke at work, the authors argue that more action is needed.
‘Public health interventions should consider the remaining workplace and home settings where people still experience exposure to secondhand smoke,’the study concludes.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently progressing through the UK Parliament could provide new powers to extend smoke-free spaces, offering additional protection to workers in sectors such as transport and hospitality who remain at risk.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: ‘Banning smoking in indoor public places was a landmark moment for Scotland and one we can all be proud of.
‘Since 2006, cigarette smoking has almost halved. To support people to quit we fund NHS smoking cessation services across Scotland, with more than 30,000 quit attempts recorded last year with their help.
‘I’m pleased the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is in its final stages, provides new powers to Scottish Ministers to expand existing smoke-free spaces as well as create vape- and heated tobacco-free spaces. This will help ensure we meet our target of a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034 and further reduce exposure to health-harming products.’
The full report can be read here
Photo: Abstral Official
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