Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act 2016

Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act 2016

Act of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
Long title	An Act of the Scottish Parliament to prohibit smoking in private motor vehicles in the presence of children, subject to limited exceptions; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2016 asp 3
Introduced by	Jim Hume MSP
Dates
Royal assent	21 January 2016
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through the Parliament
Text of the Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act 2016 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act 2016 is an act of the Scottish Parliament which prohibited smoking in a motor vehicle with a child.

Legislative passage

The legislation was supported by the Scottish government and opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament. ^[1]

Provisions

Those who violate the legislation are subject to a fine of up to £100 or £1,000 if the case goes to court. ^{[2] [3]}

Reception

Forest, a smokers' group, described the legislation as patronising. ^[4]

BMA Scotland supported the legislation. ^[3]

Further developments

A 2021 study by the University of Glasgow found that asthma hospitalisations fell by 1.49% per month among children under the age of 5 with no effect for children between the ages of 2014 and 2021. ^[5]

See also

• Children and Families Act 2014

References

1. "Scotland to ban smoking in cars with children". BBC News. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
2. "Ban on smoking in cars with children comes into force". BBC News. 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
3. Cameron, Lucinda (4 December 2016). "Smoking ban in cars with child passengers to come into force in Scotland this week". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
4. "Ban on smoking in cars with children to take effect in Scotland". ITV News. 4 December 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
5. Wilson, Caroline (16 July 2021). "Asthma attacks dropped after car smoking ban according to Glasgow University study". The Herald. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.