The deadline for achieving a “ tobacco-free” Scotland is likely to be missed by more than 16 years, according to Cancer Research.
The Scottish Government has vowed to reduce the adult smoking rate to a maximum of five per cent by 2034, which would class the country as a “tobacco-free”.
But if current trends continue, the Government will not hit its target until much later than 2050.
The projections suggest 12 per cent of adults will still smoke by 2034 if there is no change in the expected decline in smoking rates.
Smoking remains the biggest preventable cause of cancer in Scotland, with lung cancer killing 4100 annually.
About 19 per cent of adults in the country smoke – more than 843,000.
To hit the target by 2034, there would need to be 585,000 fewer smokers than there are today.
For those who live in Scotland’s most deprived communities, the target is likely to be reached even later.
Cancer Research UK projections suggest the richest fifth of Scotland’s population could be smoke-free in 2034 but the poorest fifth will have not even crossed the 10 per cent mark by 2050.
The charity believes the 2034 target will only be met if the Scottish Government ensures all smokers
who visit hospital are routinely offered support to quit.
Marion O’Neill, Cancer Research UK’s head of external affairs in Scotland, said: “Smoking has a
catastrophic impact on health.
“It’s enormously addictive and difficult to quit so more needs to be done to ensure people know about the support available to give up.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We welcome the recommendations made by Cancer Research UK which endorses many of our plans, such as evaluating the tobacco control action plan and providing ongoing smoking cessation support across all healthcare.”
