Skip to content
Law Society of Scotland
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
  • For members

    • For members

    • CPD & Training

    • Membership and fees

    • Rules and guidance

    • Regulation and compliance

    • Journal

    • Business support

    • Career growth

    • Member benefits

    • Professional support

    • Lawscot Wellbeing

    • Lawscot Sustainability

  • News and events

    • News and events

    • Law Society news

    • Blogs & opinions

    • CPD & Training

    • Events

  • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying as a Scottish solicitor

    • Career support and advice

    • Our work with schools

    • Lawscot Foundation

    • Funding your education

    • Social mobility

  • Research and policy

    • Research and policy

    • Research

    • Influencing the law and policy

    • Equality and diversity

    • Our international work

    • Legal Services Review

    • Meet the Policy team

  • For the public

    • For the public

    • What solicitors can do for you

    • Making a complaint

    • Client protection

    • Find a Solicitor

    • Frequently asked questions

    • Your Scottish solicitor

  • About us

    • About us

    • Contact us

    • Who we are

    • Our strategy, reports and plans

    • Help and advice

    • Our standards

    • Work with us

    • Our logo and branding

    • Equality and diversity

  1. Home
  2. News and events
  3. Law Society news
  4. Law Society welcomes ban on smoking in cars with children

Law Society welcomes ban on smoking in cars with children

17th December 2015 | Law Society news

Smoking in cars where children are present will now be a criminal offence, after the legislation was passed by the Scottish Parliament today, 17 December.

The Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Bill was debated this afternoon at stage 3 by MSPs.  When the legislation comes into force, it will be a criminal offence to smoke in a car where a child is present.   An amendment to the bill tabled by Jackson Carlaw MSP proposed a review of the legislation after 5 years. 

Alison Britton, convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s health and medical law committee said:

“The passing of this bill is great news for the health and wellbeing of children, the harmful effects of tobacco and smoking are undisputed, as well as the effects of second hand smoke.    We had hoped that the legislation be extended to expressly prohibit the use of e-cigarettes as well as conventional cigarettes,  especially in relation to young people, so it is disappointing to see this hasn’t been included. 

“We also proposed a review of the legislation within five years to ascertain how well it was working, and we are disappointed that MSPs voted against such a review.   Taking into account there will undoubtedly be an updating of research, not only into the effects of e-cigarettes, but the harmful effects of tobacco in general in the next few years, this would have potentially given us the opportunity to ensure that the legislation remained fit for purpose.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

All the Law Society’s documents pertaining to the Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Bill can be found on our website

MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO: Louise Docherty  louisedocherty@lawscot.org.uk 0131 476 8204

Add To Favorites
Law Society of Scotland
Atria One, 144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX
If you’re looking for a solicitor, visit FindaSolicitor.scot
T: +44(0) 131 226 7411
E: lawscot@lawscot.org.uk
About us
  • Contact us
  • Who we are
  • Strategy reports plans
  • Help and advice
  • Our standards
  • Work with us
Useful links
  • Find a Solicitor
  • Sign in
  • CPD & Training
  • Rules and guidance
  • Website terms and conditions
Law Society of Scotland | © 2025
Made by Gecko Agency Limited