Back in August the UK’s smokers and vapers received a waft of bad news: as part of an incoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the UK Government was reportedly considering banning smoking in pub gardens and outdoor restaurants. The ban was proposed as the next step in plans to eventually make the UK smoke-free – a move favoured by health experts but not so popular with many in the hospitality industry.
Yesterday (November 5), however, Health Secretary Wes Streeting revealed that now the government has ditched plans to ban smoking in outdoor areas of pubs, bars and restaurants in England.
Streeting said: ‘To be fair to the hospitality industry, they’ve taken a real battering in recent years – I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest for us to worsen that situation.’
The move has been supported by some in the hospitality industry. The British Beer and Pub Association, which represents 20,000 pubs in the UK, said the ban ‘would have led to many pubs shutting their doors and jobs being lost’.
Other parts of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill remain unchanged. The government is still considering banning outdoor smoking at children’s playgrounds, as well as outside schools and hospitals. The main focus of the bill is to ensure that nobody currently aged 15 years old or younger (born before 2009) will ever be able to legally buy cigarettes.
It’s worth noting that in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it is already illegal to smoke on NHS hospital grounds. In Wales, smoking also isn’t allowed near schools or in public playgrounds.
Additional restrictions will be placed on vapes. Advertising of vapes and sponsorship by vape companies will be banned, while flavours and marketing will also be restricted.
Exactly how the new outdoor smoking ban will be enforced hasn’t been revealed. Streeting suggested to the BBC that it could work in the same way as fines for fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.
When was smoking banned in UK pubs and what are the current rules?
Smoking was banned in UK pubs (and all enclosed public spaces and workspaces) in July 2007. Current rules dictate that smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces and workspaces, as well as on public transport.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.