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The UK government is reportedly exploring an expanded smoking ban that could extend to outdoor areas such as pub gardens, nightclubs, and small parks, according to “secret Whitehall papers” cited by The Sun. This potential new ban follows Labour's plans to revive a smoking ban initially proposed by Rishi Sunak’s previous administration. The revived proposal aims to incrementally raise the legal smoking age.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting children and non-smokers from the dangers of second-hand smoke. “We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free,” the spokesperson stated.
The proposed measures would represent a stricter version of Sunak’s tobacco and vapes bill, which intended to prohibit tobacco sales to individuals born after January 2009. Additionally, there is speculation that the restrictions could extend to vape users and shisha bars, although the plans are not said to cover private homes or large open spaces.
Panmure Liberum analysts highlighted that the initiative would address the significant financial burden on the NHS, which annually spends approximately £2 billion on treating smoking-related illnesses. Furthermore, the economy loses about £18 billion in productivity due to smoking breaks.
However, the analysts also noted potential repercussions for the pub industry. The sector has already invested heavily in accommodating smokers in outdoor spaces. Any further restrictions on smoking in these areas could exacerbate the risk of pub closures, which had previously been prevented by the potential for adverse financial impacts.
The analysts pointed out that while not all pub patrons smoke, a significant portion of them do. This demographic could be disproportionately affected by any additional restrictions on smoking in outdoor areas associated with pubs.
