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Home > Smoking Could Be Banned In Pub Gardens And Outdoor Restaurants

Smoking Could Be Banned In Pub Gardens And Outdoor Restaurants

Smoking in pub gardens could be banned under plans being considered by ministers.

Leaked documents seen by The Sun suggest the Government is also looking at extending the ban on indoor smoking to areas outside football stadiums, outdoor restaurants, shisha bars and open-air spaces at nightclubs.

It will also apply outside universities, hospitals, children’s play areas and small parks while vapers could also be hit, the newspaper said.

Private homes are likely to be unaffected, as are large parks and roads, but the distance someone will be allowed to smoke away from one of these locations is yet to be determined, the newspaper reported.

It remains unclear whether beaches and enclosed parks where many people are gathered into a small space will fall under the proposals.

All four nations of the UK will be affected although the measures will first be subject to a public consultation.

The proposals, which did not appear in the Labour manifesto, would significantly toughen up the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which made no mention of banning smoking outdoors.

The legislation, which was first tabled by Rishi Sunak’s government, would ban anyone born after 2009 from buying tobacco in an attempt to phase out smoking completely.

Labour ministers re-introduced it in the King’s Speech after the Conservatives ran out of time to get it on the statute book before Rishi Sunak decided to call a snap general election.

Sir Tony Blair banned smoking indoors in 2007 in one of his final acts as Prime Minister and no Government has sought reverse it.

The move is reported to have sparked tensions between Cabinet ministers and the business department is said to be concerned about the potential cost to the hospitality sector, which has already been hit by lockdowns.

Sir Keir Starmer has decided to press ahead with the outdoor ban which is backed by Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, according to the newspaper.

Proponents will claim the economic benefits will outweigh any cost as the practice costs taxpayers £21.8 billion a year in health spending.

A 2020 government press release suggested banning smoking outdoors would lead many hospitality venues to close and lead to job cuts.

It said: “Since the existing ban was introduced, businesses have invested heavily in outdoor areas. Banning outdoor smoking would lead to significant closures and job losses.”

The NHS warns passive smoking is particularly damaging to children who can develop asthma, chest infections and meningitis.

The Government has a target of making England “smoke-free” by 2030, which would mean only five per cent of the population would smoke by then.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We do not comment on leaks. Smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS, and costs taxpayers billions.

“We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from the harms of second-hand smoking. We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.”