Forest has criticised a new smoking policy that has been imposed on employees of a local council in Scotland.

Forest has described the announcement that tobacco duty will continue to rise by inflation plus two per cent as "grossly unfair".

John Mallon, spokesman for Forest Ireland, said, “Smokers have been the whipping boys of successive governments for far too long."

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BUDGET 2019 – Forest Ireland has called for a freeze on tobacco excise duty to reduce the “unfair” level of tax on the nation’s smokers.

Prioritising smoking cessation with a view to reducing smoking prevalence in England to less than five per cent by 2030 is an attack on choice and personal responsibility, says Forest.

Forest today gave a cautious welcome a new campaign to reduce cigarette litter but called on councils to provide more cigarette bins.

Plans to supply inmates with vaping kits after Scottish prisons go smoke free later this year have been questioned by Forest.

Forest says government should tackle the problem of drugs and violent assaults in England's prisons by allowing designated smoking areas.