The Unwelcome Guest
26 March 2026 will mark the 20 year anniversary of smoke-free public places legislation coming into effect in Scotland. This legislation, prohibiting smoking in enclosed public spaces and protecting the population from the harms of second-hand smoke, continues to be a resounding success.
The Unwelcome Guest, published by ASH Scotland (Sheila Duffy, Dr Rachel Harrison and Julia Hurst) with input from Professor Amanda Amos in the lead up to Scotland’s smoke-free legislation in 2006 shone a light on the challenges overcome during this process.
At the time, then First Minister, Jack McConnell MSP, stated that “we in this parliament have a chance to make the most significant step to improve Scotland's public health for a generation” and he was to be proved right.
We reflect on this Act, widely recognised as one of the defining actions from the early years of the Scottish Parliament, with the republication of The Unwelcome Guest 20 years on, thanks to Dr Rachel O'Donnell, Professor Sean Semple and our CEO, Sheila Duffy.
The Unwelcome Guest: How Scotland invited the tobacco industry to smoke outside
This report captures a slice of history in Scotland with insights demonstrating the efforts of the global tobacco industry to stop, weaken and introduce loopholes to this UK-leading smoke-free legislation. Importantly, it also highlights and records the work by politicians, policymakers and civic society to counter Big Tobacco's efforts and bring forward legislation at the vanguard of providing protection from the harms of second-hand smoke.
The UK is on the cusp of another huge, world-leading leap in tobacco control. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently passing through the parliament process will mean no one born after 1st January 2009 will be legally sold tobacco, and there will be further powers to extend smoke-free spaces under devolved health legislation. These bold measures will help to tackle the burden that tobacco still places on our communities, and we see again the tobacco industry tactics described in this report being deployed yet again to limit the scope of the Bill.
You can download the publication here.