Ex-health minister's smoking plea

About 37% of people in Glasgow are smokers

Former Scottish Health Minister Sam Galbraith has reignited the debate about stubbing out smoking.

He has called for a ban in public places, saying: "We need it now and we should get on with it."

He is supported by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Mac Armstrong, who in March called for a ban on smoking in the workplace.

But the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest) called for tolerance.

Mr Galbraith told Holyrood magazine: "It is true that banning smoking in public places raises issues of civil liberties, but they are all on the side of a ban: freedom from health hazards and antisocial behaviour.

SMOKING - THE STATISTICS About 13,000 people die in Scotland each year from smoking-related illness Smoking costs the NHS £200m a year In 2002 about 1.15 million people in Scotland smoked At least 20 to 25% of all deaths in Scotland result from smoking More than four out of five lung cancer deaths are smoking related

"Why should a minority be able to subject the majority to the effects of their bad habit, the stinking clothes, smoke mixed with your meal and overflowing ashtrays?

"Fag ends are thrown out of car windows and our pavements are littered with the detritus of smoking. The majority is entitled to some consideration."

Owners of Irish pubs and restaurants face fines of up to 3,000 euros (£2,000) if customers are caught smoking after the habit was outlawed in March.

About 37% of Glaswegians are smokers and people living in deprived areas are twice as likely to smoke.

Smoking rates in Scotland remain above the UK average and it is still the biggest cause of preventable, premature death and ill health.

Recent statistics show it costs the NHS in Scotland £200m a year.