A new law that bans smoking on hospital grounds has come into force in Scotland and violations will be met with fines, reports Glasgow Live.

A voluntary smoke-free policy on hospital grounds has been around since 2015 but the new rule now means that anyone found smoking within 15 metres of a hospital building could be fined GBP 50 on the spot or up to GBP 1,000 if the case goes to court.
The new rule is part of the government’s plan to create a tobacco free Scotland by 2034 and applies to NHS hospital settings used for patient treatment and care, according to Glasgow Live.
“Everyone knows that smoking is bad for our health and hospital patients in particular should be protected from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, said Public health minister Maree Todd.
“This new law is the latest step in our bold plan to make Scotland tobacco-free by 2034 – building on our dedicated stop-smoking services and early intervention measures to stop youngsters picking up the habit altogether,” she said.