Scottish Government forces Glasgow Games to be "smoke-free"

The organisers of next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have announced they will be "smoke-free".

A press release, embargoed until midnight last night, revealed that:

Glasgow 2014 has worked in conjunction with the Scottish Government, and with encouragement from ASH Scotland, to define its 'smoke-free' policy.

This will mean no smoking within the venues or venue perimeters, making it the most progressive smoking policy at any major sporting event held in Scotland ...

The policy being introduced for the Games meets with World Health Organisation criteria as to what constitutes a 'smoke-free' sporting event.

During the Games, clear signage will remind spectators of the no-smoking restrictions supported both by public address and big screen messages within venues, as well as social media.

Invited to comment by one Scottish newspaper on Friday, Forest issued the following press release:

Campaigners have criticised the decision to make the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 completely 'smoke-free'.

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' group Forest, said: "This is a political decision that has nothing to do with public health.

"The Scottish Government, in association with ASH Scotland, is imposing its extreme anti-smoking doctrine on an event that belongs to the Commonwealth, not Scotland alone.

"The London Olympic Games faced similar pressure from anti-smoking groups and politicians but organisers had the courage to reject an outright ban on smoking in outdoor locations and allow designated smoking areas.

"The London Games were considered to be one of the most friendly and hospitable sporting events ever. It's sad the organisers of Glasgow 2014 haven't followed their example because the message they are sending to thousands of potential spectators is, you're not welcome here."

The BBC, as it often does, has ignored any comment from anyone who might disagree with the Scottish Government's anti-smoking crusade. (See Glasgow 2014: Organisers plan 'smoke-free' games published at 19:07 last night.)

Thankfully not every media organisation is as biased as the BBC. The Mail on Sunday, Sunday Post and Scotland on Sunday (Glasgow 2014: Smoking to be banned around venues) have all quoted us but that doesn't change the fact that the Scottish Government, "with encouragement from ASH Scotland" (ie an organisation funded almost entirely by the taxpayer), is using an international sporting event to pursue its own domestic agenda.

Classy.