Keir Starmer’s Pub Garden Smoking Ban: Implementation and Impact
Labour leader Keir Starmer has recently confirmed that his party is considering a ban on smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor spaces. This proposed ban is aimed at reducing the burden that smoking places on the National Health Service (NHS) and preventing the preventable deaths caused by smoking-related illnesses.
Impact on Health and Hospitality Industry
The potential ban would extend to small parks, areas outside nightclubs, hospitals, and sports venues. While health bodies have welcomed the move as a step towards improving public health, many in the hospitality industry have expressed concerns about how it could negatively impact their businesses.
According to Sir Keir Starmer, the ban on smoking in outdoor spaces is part of a larger effort to phase out cigarettes and prevent future generations from becoming addicted to smoking. If the proposed rules were to be implemented by 2027, individuals aged 14 and under at the time would never be able to purchase cigarettes.
Prime Minister’s Stance on Smoking Ban
During a visit to Paris, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the proposed smoking ban by emphasizing the preventable deaths and burden smoking places on the NHS and taxpayers. With over 80,000 people losing their lives annually due to smoking-related illnesses, Johnson stressed the importance of taking action to reduce these numbers.
Enforcement of Outdoor Smoking Ban
If the outdoor smoking ban is implemented, individuals caught smoking in designated spaces such as pub gardens or outside sports venues could face a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £150. Refusal to pay this fine may result in prosecution. Businesses that fail to prevent smoking in the workplace could also face fines of up to £2500.
The 2007 indoor smoking ban in the UK resulted in a 2.4 percent reduction in hospital admissions for heart attacks and a 12.3 percent decrease in admissions for childhood asthma. If the outdoor smoking ban is enforced similarly, it could lead to further improvements in public health.
Regulation of Vaping
While the Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes changes to vaping laws in the UK, it is unlikely that vapes would be included in the proposed outdoor smoking ban. Currently, vaping is not prohibited in enclosed spaces like cigarettes, but many venues may have their own policies against vaping.
The government is introducing new regulations around vaping to limit its appeal to children, including restrictions on flavors, packaging, and advertising. However, there is a possibility that vaping regulations may be aligned with cigarette laws in the future, potentially leading to bans on indoor vaping or inclusion in outdoor smoking restrictions.
Overall, the implementation of a ban on smoking in outdoor spaces could have significant implications for public health, the hospitality industry, and smoking-related regulations in the UK. While the decision is still under consideration, the potential impact of such a ban on society remains a topic of debate and discussion among policymakers, health experts, and business owners.
