THE new smoking ban could hurt the UK more than the 2007 indoor crackdown with thousands of boozers at risk, a drinks boss has warned.
Sir Keir Starmer will spark huge controversy, and claims of nannyism, when the plans are unveiled as part of a tougher Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Secret Whitehall papers seen by The Sun show ministers plotting to drastically extend the indoor smoking ban to beer gardens and outside football stadiums.
Starmer says the measures are aimed at reducing the 80,000 preventable deaths from smoking in the UK each year.
Labour also wants to continue with the previous government’s plans to create a “smoke-free generation” by banning the sale of cigarettes in the future to anyone 14 or under.
While details of the new plans are still in the works, many have already hit back at the bill.
Now, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality Kate Nicholls, criticised the proposed ban.
She said: “Sitting in a beer garden with a pint – and for some, a cigarette or a vape – is a central part of visiting the pub.
“I think we all recognise the Government’s ambition to drive down the numbers of people that smoke but there is a huge question mark over whether banning smoking in some outdoor areas is the way to do that.
“What there is no doubt about is the economic impact this will have on pubs and the wider hospitality sector, which is already shouldering more than its fair share of financial pain.
“Let’s look back to 2007, when the indoor smoking ban came into effect. That was a sea-change in how pubs operated and it had a huge impact.
“Some businesses had their whole operating model thrown into the air and they never really recovered.
“There were significant business closures, with thousands calling last orders, and I fear we would see similar if this outdoor ban went ahead.
“Not only would pubs and nightclubs be affected, as happened in 2007.
“Also hit would be restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels that have all spent significant sums of money doing up their outdoor spaces so that smokers and non-smokers alike can enjoy themselves in comfort.”
Kate said that the issue is fundamentally about choice.
She continued: “People should have the choice about where outside they want to smoke or vape, and businesses should have the choice about how they run their outdoor spaces.
“They make these decisions based on informed knowledge of their customers and their venues, so whether they allow smoking outside should be their call.
“This shouldn’t become a binary smoker vs non-smoker debate. I don’t smoke, but I like to be able to socialise outside hospitality venues with friends that do.
“All of a sudden, our options become very limited. That diminishes the hospitality experience, which Britain is famed for.
“Our pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants are the places friends and family go to when they want to get together or celebrate a special occasion. All of a sudden, if this ban goes ahead, an added barrier is put in place.”
Kate said she fears that this ban would simply change the location where people smoke, not change their habit for good.
She continued: “That’s not good for us as a society or for the hospitality sector, which generates £140 billion in revenue each year and employs 3.5 million people.
“We can work together to ensure our pubs and other venues can thrive and be places welcome to everyone, regardless of whether they smoke or not.
“These measures would limit our potential and go against the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that encapsulates our sector.
“With the right economic conditions, we can grow by six per cent a year and play a huge part in delivering the Government’s growth ambitions.”
Kate said that the financial challenges facing pubs is already well-understood and remains a barrier to any growth potential.
She said: “The Government talked a good game during the election campaign about supporting hospitality and high street businesses, and we need to see the Chancellor deliver on those warm words in a very real way.
“These plans to ban smoking in outdoor spaces are certainly not a supportive measure for high streets.
“I urge the Government to urgently reconsider and talk to bodies like UKHospitality and our members.”
Meanwhile the CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association said that pubs were the “social fabric of our local communities and have been for centuries”.
Emma McClarkin said: “Pubs are an indispensable part of British life, and preserving them is in the national interest.
“Instead of tying them up in more red tape, the Government needs to help pubs by reforming business rates and cutting beer duty in the forthcoming budget.
“Our members and punters have already told us what will happen if the ban goes ahead – more people will take away their custom and pubs will be forced to close.
“The Government needs to honour the promises it made when it wanted to be voted into power. They need to support growth by encouraging punters into pubs – not driving them away.
“If more pubs close as a result of this smoking ban, communities up and down Britain will be the poorer – not just economically but socially too.”
Owners of boozers across the country are understandably sceptical of any proposed plans for pubs.
Michael Bann, 42, owner of the Four Alls pub, in Higham, near Burnley, Lancs., said: “It’s as though the government don’t want pubs to thrive and do well.
“It’s just another obstacle we have to deal with. I agree with a smoking ban in playgrounds but not in beer gardens. Pubs are already struggling.
He added: “Will people wanting to smoke have to stand on the pavement? I just don’t know how it is going to be policed.
“What I am more concerned about is if the government follows Scotland and lowers the drink drive limit, where you can’t even have a pint.
“A lot of people come in for a pint after work before going home and that would all stop.
“That would have a big impact on trade and business. I’m waiting for the next tax rise, which will shut even more pubs down.”
Abbie Marshall’s pub has a huge beer garden covering nearly half an acre.
The walled garden outside the Buck Inn at Thornton Le Dale, north Yorks, seats up to 150 drinkers and many of them are smokers.
Abbie, 47, said: ““I’m hoping that there will be such a backlash that the idea won’t go anywhere.
“How the hell am I going to police such a large area to make sure my customers aren’t smoking? It’s insane.
“Who in their right mind woke up one morning and thought ‘this is a good idea’.”
Most of the regulars at the Buck Inn are aged from late 30s to the elderly and many like a cigarette with their pint.
Abbie argues that many pub owners in the UK are only just keeping their businesses alive and are worried about huge business rates rises next year.
Currently pubs only pay 25 percent of their business rates which are due to go back up to 100 percent from next April.
Abbie says: “Speaking to other publicans a lot of them don’t have the cash flow to pay a 75 percent jump in business rates.
“Everyone has the same point of view on the smoking ban. We’re all sat there going, this is insane. Let’s look at more important things, really.”
