British Prime Minister confirmed that the government is exploring the possibility of implementing stricter anti-smoking regulations, including a potential ban on smoking in outdoor spaces such as pub gardens and outdoor restaurants. This consideration follows a report suggesting a ban on smoking in various outdoor facilities like hospitals, universities, and sports grounds.
Smoking has been prohibited indoors in pubs, restaurants, and most workplaces in the U.K. since 2007. However, smoking-related illnesses continue to pose a significant burden on the National Health Service, costing over 2.5 billion pounds annually in England alone.
The Prime Minister emphasized the preventable nature of smoking-related deaths, with over 80,000 lives lost each year due to smoking. The government aims to take action to reduce this burden on the healthcare system and taxpayers.
The Labour government, elected in July, plans to reintroduce legislation from the previous administration to ban the sale of tobacco to individuals born after January 2009. This proposal would incrementally raise the legal age for purchasing cigarettes each year until it becomes illegal for the entire population.
While the number of smokers in the U.K. has significantly decreased since the 1970s, approximately 6.4 million people, or 13% of the population, still smoke. The legal age for tobacco sales was raised from 16 to 18 in 2007 alongside the indoor smoking ban.
Health professionals generally support the idea of an outdoor smoking ban, citing public health benefits. However, some critics argue that such measures represent unnecessary state intervention in personal lifestyle choices and could further strain businesses recovering from the pandemic and energy cost challenges.
Industry figures, including the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association and a pub entrepreneur, expressed concerns about the potential impact of outdoor smoking restrictions on consumer behavior and business viability.
