Fife Council signs pledge to help cut tobacco use in Scotland

Fife Council has become the 200th organisation to endorse Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-Free Generation.

It is the third local authority to pledge its support for the initiative after East Dunbartonshire and Highland councils also signed the charter, which aims to deliver a tobacco-free generation of Scots by 2034.

Started by health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), it encourages organisations to state how they can contribute to the goal.

NHS Fife, Fife College, Park Road Primary in Rosyth and Barnardo’s Fife are among the groups that have already backed it.

Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Brett and Labour’s Judy Hamilton said there was crossparty support for the charter in keeping with the council’s aim of encouraging the whole community to help reduce the harm caused by tobacco.

Fife Council chief executive Steve Grimmond said: “We will use the charter to raise awareness of the tobacco-free generation target and the part that everyone can play in bringing this about.

“Everyone in the council has their part to play in making Fife tobacco-free.”

Mr Grimmond said Fife already had plenty to shout about in terms of working to reduce smoking.

“We have a fantastic team of trading standards officers who work closely with retailers and in schools to reduce under-18s exposure to tobacco,” he said.

“Recently they have worked with ASH Scotland on the #notafavour campaign to raise awareness that giving tobacco to teens is just introducing them to addiction, ill-health and money worries – it’s not a favour.”