Smoking prevalence, vaping laws, snus in Scotland

In Scotland, the prevalence of current smokers in the general population, aged 16 and over, has decreased from 23% in 2011 to 18% in 2017. Women's smoking prevalence has decreased the most, from 22% to 16% over this period; men's current smoking prevalence has decreased from 24% to 20%. The Scottish Health Survey is designed to yield a representative sample of the general population living in private households in Scotland every year. Interviews were held in 3,062 households with 3,697 adults (aged 16 and over). All data in the report are weighted.

Scotland is part of the UK and as such abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). E-cigarettes may be brought to market either as medicines or as consumer products. One e-cigarette product has been licensed to be prescribed through the National Health Service as a medicine, and it is not currently available on the market. E-cigarettes sold as consumer products are regulated under the UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (SI 2016 no. 507). This covers all of the UK, however devolved nations may choose to apply greater restrictions. Manufacturers must provide detailed information regarding all new e-cigarette products to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Advertising is allowed on billboards but not on TV and radio. Legally, there are no restrictions on where you can vape, but companies, public transport and public buildings implement their own restrictions. E-cigarettes are subject to a 20% Value Added Tax (VAT); however, if they are regulated as medicines, a 5% tax is levied instead. No 'medicinal' products are currently available.

There are no comments specific to snus in Scotland in the database.

Article 19 of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, covering novel tobacco products, covers heated tobacco products. Regulations cover reporting, notifications and health warning labels. Composition of the products must be notified to reference labs for approval, and the products must comply with the EU Directive in order to be marketed. In UK and Scottish law these products cannot be advertised, promoted or displayed for sale.

There are no comments specific to nicotine replacement therapy in Scotland in the database.