SMOKING is to be banned from pub gardens, leaked government plans reveal.
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.
Lighting up will be stubbed out at outdoor restaurants, open-air spaces at clubs, and pavements next to both.
It will also apply outside universities, hospitals, sports grounds, kids’ play areas and small parks.
Ministers could also sting vapers.
And shisha bars are expected to fall foul of the new rules.
But the restrictions will not cover private homes, nor large open spaces such as parks or streets.
The Bill was initially designed to implement Rishi Sunak’s plan to phase out all smoking — but it made no mention of an outdoor ban when unveiled at the King’s Speech six weeks ago.
Ministers and officials have since been working to harden the proposals after fearing too many Brits suffer from second-hand smoke inhalation.
The move has sparked Cabinet tensions, with memos showing the Business Department fearing the financial cost to hospitality.
Many landlords have been forced to close since the pandemic due to rising costs and taxes.
A recent impact assessment concluded banning outdoor smoking will lead to closures and job losses.
However, the PM has resolved to press ahead with the outdoor ban with the backing of England’s Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty.
Ahead of the inevitable backlash, ministers will argue the economic benefits far outweigh the costs.
They will claim that smoking costs the Treasury £21.8billion in health spending, dwarfing the amount it raises in tax.
Downing Street will also point out that when then-PM Tony Blair’s Labour government introduced the public smoking ban in 2007, it actually did not hurt businesses but helped save lives.
But an outdoor ban will still be viewed as an immensely radical move by Sir Keir just weeks after he won the election.
Critics will point out that such a proposal was not disclosed to voters.
Labour’s manifesto only pledged to honour the Tory plan to continuously raise the smoking age so the next generation can never legally buy cigarettes.
A public consultation will be launched over the outdoor smoking ban, but is unlikely to change the Government’s position.
While ministers are set to continue talks to finalise the policy, the current blueprint is to ban ciggies outside hospitals, schools, college and university campuses, sports grounds and playgrounds.
The distance someone will be allowed to smoke away from one of these locations is yet to be determined.
Especially thorny is the decision to slap pub gardens and restaurant seating areas with the restrictions.
A 2020 government press release made explicitly clear that banning outdoor smoking in bars would be a hammer blow.
It said: “Since the existing ban was introduced, businesses have invested heavily in outdoor areas. Banning outdoor smoking would lead to significant closures and job losses.”
The Whitehall papers make clear that private homes will remain unaffected, as will places where human contact is only temporary, such as big parks and roads.
Grey areas that still appear to be under discussion include beaches and enclosed parks that bunch lots of people into small spaces.
One option is to differentiate between big open spaces and smaller more densely-populated ones.
The plans also mention vape-free areas but it is unclear if the outdoor ban will extend to e-cigs.
Shisha bars are definitely set to suffer, which could spell curtains for the industry.
Like the original Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the outdoor smoking ban will apply to all four countries in the UK.
While dozens of Tory MPs will likely vote against, Sir Keir will almost certainly push it through with his massive majority.
But the PM is hopeful the public will back the measures, with some polling showing large support for smoke-free pub gardens.
Around 6.4million people in the UK — 13 per cent of the population — are believed to be smokers.
Non-users are still harmed by passive smoking.
The NHS warns passive smoking is particularly damaging to children who can develop asthma, chest infections and meningitis.
A target exists to make England “smoke-free” by 2030, meaning only five per cent of the population would smoke by then.
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We do not comment on leaks.
Smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS and costs taxpayers billions.
“We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoking. We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.”
Says Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
SMOKING kills more people than obesity, alcohol, drugs and lack of exercise combined.
Most deaths are down to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease.
But it’s also linked to cancer of the lip, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, stomach and liver.
And it’s not just your health that’s affected.
Inhaling second-hand smoke has been linked to a greater risk of heart disease, lung and breast cancers, strokes, dementia and asthma in non-smokers.
Anything that helps create a world that protects children and young people from the harms of smoking is a no-brainer to me.
I’m old enough to remember nights out before the smoking ban, when it was normal to get home stinking of smoke and with your clothes ruined by fag burns.
Maybe in ten years the idea of smoking in public will be just that — a horrible memory.
Younger generations will thank us.
Says Shaun, Custis Head of Sport
I NEED a fag just to calm down after the latest clampdown from the government zealots — and I haven’t had one for a month.
I’m one of those occasional smokers who likes a cig in the backyard of the pub on a Friday night after a couple of pints but rarely goes near them otherwise.
Yes, I know no fags are better, but give me a break.
At least it’s not a double cheese burger and fries, which is no doubt next on the list of the health police.
The argument goes the ban on smoking inside pubs didn’t kill the trade.
But being able to pop outside for a drag saved the day.
Now, if you can’t even do that, it will be time to stay at home, invite your mates round and nip out to the patio — until they stop you smoking on your own land.
And, as drinking is also bad for you, we’re not far off an alcohol ban in pubs, too, in this world of utter madness.
It’s insane. Anyone got a light?
