The health of bar staff in Scotland has improved since the smoking ban was introduced two years ago, according to research published today.

The health of bar staff in Scotland has improved since the smoking ban was introduced two years ago, according to research published today.

The study followed more than 190 bar workers from more than 70 bars for a year, and found that their rate of reporting respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and phlegm production, fell from 69% to 57% within 12 months of their workplaces becoming smoke-free.

Both smokers and non-smoking staff were included in the study and health improvements were discovered in both groups.

In smokers, the proportion who complained of wheezing fell from 48% immediately before the ban to 31% one year later, while reports of irritated eyes fell from 35% to 25% in the same time period.

In non-smokers, the biggest health benefit recorded was a drop in phlegm production, with 14% of workers complaining of the symptom compared to 32% when smoking was still allowed in public places.

Workers' health was measured immediately before the ban was introduced, two months after the ban and then again one year after the first measures were taken. Bar workers who had colds either at baseline or follow-up were excluded from the analysis, which was carried out by Aberdeen University.

Professor Jon Ayres, lead investigator, said: "These findings show a similar result to the bans in the US and Ireland. But, significantly, for the first time we have found that smokers also reported important improvements in their health."