THE Scottish Government is weeks away from unveiling radical proposals to effectively end tobacco consumption in Scotland over the next two decades.

Plans for a smoke-free nation would see it follow New Zealand and Finland.

They are the only other countries to have set the goal of becoming smoke-free by a particular date – 2025 and 2040 respectively.

The Sunday Herald revealed yesterday that an announcement is due in the new year.

It means the country would have less than 5% of the population as smokers.

John Watson, director of policy and communications at anti-tobacco charity Ash Scotland, said: "We could say 'let's look at it as being within a generation'.

"For somebody born next year, let's try and achieve the target by the time they reach 18 or 21, so we are looking ahead to the next generation living their lives free from tobacco. For the Scottish Government to set a date and say we want to be smoke-free by this date would be great."

Scotland was the first place in the UK to implement a ban on smoking in public places in 2006.

The percentage of Scots adults smoking fell from 25.7% in 2006 to 23.3% last year. In 1999, it was 30%.

Professor Gerard Hastings, of Stirling University's Centre for Tobacco Control Research, said "The idea of having a goal is a good one."

Simon Clark, director of pro-smoking group Forest, said: "Everyone knows the health risks of smoking, but we must be careful not to go too far. Life is full of risks.

"If we try to eliminate every one through draconian legislation we create a very illiberal society."