A smokers’ rights campaigner has rounded on an NHS Tayside scheme encouraging people to stop smoking in their homes.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Simon Clark, director of Forest, described the Smoke Free Homes scheme as “patronising” and said that it treated adults “like children.”
He said: “No one should be told how to behave in their own homes. Most smokers are considerate to those around them, especially children. They don’t need to sign pledges to change their behaviour.
“Adults resent being lectured or treated like children and this scheme does both. If campaigners don’t want people to smoke at home they should support separate, well-ventilated smoking rooms in pubs and clubs.
“Tobacco is a legal product and consumers must be allowed to smoke somewhere without this constant harassment.”
The Smoke Free Homes scheme was launched by NHS Tayside last week and asks smokers to sign up to either a gold promise, meaning they will not smoke anywhere in their home, or a silver promise, meaning they will only smoke in one room in the house and never in front of children.
NHS Tayside senior health promotion officer Margaret Winton defended the scheme.
She said: “The Smoke Free Homes programme is a scheme aimed at encouraging people to look at the effects of second-hand smoke on others, especially children.
“Prior to the Tayside-wide launch, we carried out extensive consultation through surveys and focus groups with a wide range of people across Tayside.
“Joining the scheme is voluntary and there is no requirement to give up smoking, although help is available if the individual wishes to do so.
“The pilot scheme in Perth and Kinross, which has been running since 2009, has had a very positive response. Participants stated that 93% of family members were very supportive of the scheme.”