An important reminder for smokers!

Staff and members of the public have reported increased levels of littering and smoking in enclosed areas, such as bus stops. As the policy reaches its final phase of the roll out on October 3 it is essential smokers consider how their actions effect the environment, others and themselves.

Smoking-related litter (cigarette butts, matches and packaging) is the most common litter type in Scotland and can damage the environment and block drains, causing flooding. Anyone caught littering smoking materials faces an £80 fixed penalty notice.

When looking for an area off-site to smoke please consider others around you: smoking in enclosed areas or near entrances and windows is not advised. Although lighting up in a bus shelter off-site may seem like a good idea, it’s not – as part of the Smiking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, you can’t smoke in an enclosed or substantially enclosed structure, such as a bus shelter. Again, this can result in a fine. If ‘off-site’ for you is directly outside the door, remember that a smoke drift can still enter buildings and directly expose second-hand smoke (a serious health hazard leading to disease and premature death in children and non-smoking adults).

Please ensure that when you leave site to smoke that you do so responsibly as not to impact on others’ health, the environment or your own pocket through fixed penalties.

Remember, some reusable pocket ashtrays are available from many main council reception areas or via the Wellbeing Team.

​​Smoke-free grounds: the facts

• Councillors, employees, volunteers, contractors, visitors, service users and tenants can no longer smoke, or use e-cigarettes, on council grounds. This means any area within or around a premises owned by Aberdeenshire Council, including car parks (not pay and display), cars parked in council car parks, grounds and buildings, to include leased buildings.

• It is the responsibility of everyone in each service to implement the Aberdeenshire Council Smoking policy within their workplace – team leaders and managers must consistently relay this message to their staff. Support materials are available: DVDs, an ALDO course, signs and communications materials.
• Individuals are accountable for monitoring implementation of the policy on-site and staff must report anyone not complying. Pocket-size prompt cards are available to help staff approach someone smoking on site in a non-confrontational way.

• Support to stop smoking is available from NHS Grampian Smoking Advice Service (0500 600 332). To have an NHS smoking cessation group to attend your workplace, contact the wellbeing team.

• Further information: please contact Aberdeenshire Council’s wellbeing team via e-mail or phone on 01224 664136.