The UK government has announced a partial ban on smoking outside educational and medical facilities, while shelving plans to extend this ban to outdoor areas of pubs and restaurants. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the initiative as a crucial step towards curbing smoking and vaping, which he termed significant health hazards. This decision follows substantial feedback from the hospitality sector, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Despite dropping the proposed ban on smoking in outdoor hospitality venues, the government’s tobacco and vapes bill, set to be introduced in Parliament, seeks to position the UK as a global leader in the fight against smoking. The bill proposes a gradual increase in the legal age for purchasing tobacco products and includes stringent measures against the advertisement and sale of vapes, especially targeting strategies that appeal to the youth.
The British Beer and Pub Association has welcomed the government’s decision, citing potential job losses and pub closures if the ban had proceeded. However, health advocates like Caroline Cerny from Action on Smoking and Health have expressed disappointment, citing dilution of the bill due to industry lobbying. The bill also paves the way for future bans on smoking in other outdoor areas, especially where children and vulnerable groups gather, with a public consultation planned to discuss these expansions.
