The British government is weighing controversial plans to restrict outdoor smoking at venues across the UK, though recent reports suggest the measures may be scaled back.
The proposed legislation, which would stop anyone born after January 2009 from buying tobacco, initially included sweeping restrictions on smoking outside nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, and sports venues. However, sources close to Downing Street now indicate these broader restrictions might be limited to areas like schools and hospitals.
Healthcare remains central to the debate. “Over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted during a Paris visit. “That’s a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it’s a burden on the taxpayer.”
The hospitality sector has voiced strong concerns about potential economic damage. Kate Nicholls from UKHospitality pointed to history: “You only have to look back to the significant pub closures we saw after the indoor smoking ban to see the potential impact it could have.”
Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) CEO Michael Kill highlighted the scale of the issue: “6.4 million people in the UK still smoke, many of whom enjoy doing so in social settings like beer gardens.” NTIA recently put out a warning that the UK would lose its nightlife industry by 2029, based on the current rate of yearly venue closures.
While the Department of Health and Social Care maintains its commitment to creating “a smoke-free UK,” government sources indicate no final decision has been made. The proposal’s fate appears caught between public health goals and economic concerns, with Downing Street reportedly viewing the full outdoor ban as “unserious.”
The revised approach might focus restrictions on specific locations rather than implementing widespread outdoor prohibitions. Parks and public streets were never included in the proposed restrictions, which could also affect vaping and shisha establishments.
