Impact of the smoke-free public spaces legislation 20 years on: Evidence briefing

26 March 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s smoke-free spaces legislation.

The legislation prohibited the smoking of tobacco products in enclosed public spaces to protect the population from the harms of second-hand smoke.

This briefing provides an overview of the cumulative impacts of Scotland's smoke-free spaces policy over the past 20 years. This briefing pulls together evidence on harm reduction, the short and long-term effects on health, changes in attitudes, behaviours and norms, and the economic impacts of the policy. It outlines key findings from the comprehensive evaluation programme undertaken to assess the policy's impact within the first year and subsequent published research on key outcomes.

The legislation marked a step change in tobacco control measures and delivered important public health gains, with:

• sustained reductions in second-hand smoke exposure
• improved health outcomes
• altered social attitudes, behaviours and social norms
• transformed working environments and conditions for staff