Smoking outside restaurants and pubs could become illegal under the Labour government, it is claimd (Image: Getty Images)
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he is looking at banning smoking from outdoor spaces such as pub gardens.
In an authoritarian move just weeks into government, Labour will look to extend the smoking ban to all outdoor public places. This would make it illegal to smoke outside at a restaurant, or even in the smoking area of a nightclub, as newly elected Labour risks being accused of nannyism and sparking controversy early in its time in office.
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The Prime Minister confirmed to journalists in Paris that he is looking at changes to smoking laws after leaked documents, seen by the Sun , suggested smoking would be banned in outside sports stadiums, in children's parks, in pub gardens, outside nightclubs, on restaurant terraces, on pavements by universities and hospitals and in Shisha bars.
Asked about the reports, Mr Starmer said: "My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That is a preventable death, it's a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it is a burden on the taxpayer.
"So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space, more details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths and we've got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer."
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Radical Labour plans reportedly look set to beef up anti-smoking legislation, with universities, sports stadiums, children's parks, outdoor restaurant seating, as well as pubs and nightclubs all set to be affected by the leaked scheme. This would drastically alter the way that people use public spaces in Britain.
People who vape and use shisha bars could also fall afoul of the new public smoking rules, claimed to be being unveiled as part of a tougher Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This could mean getting a stern word or fine from a police officer for sparking up outdoors, though there is little detail yet clear on the reported proposals.
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Smoking or vaping in a children's park could become illegal (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
It is estimated that, despite the ￡8.8bn in tax receipts that addictive nicotine products bring into government coffers, the UK then spends around ￡21bn on smoking-related health issues - but some expressed fears that barring smoking could have a disastrous effect on hospitality businesses, already damaged by the Covid pandemic lockdowns.
But ministers are set to argue that the costs outweigh these risks, in an anti-libertarian move that mirrors Tony Blair's decision to introduce the initial smoking ban in 2007. Years of studies have shown that this move, which banned smoking indoors in all public places, did not hurt businesses but instead is likely to have saved thousands of lives.
However, barely a month after standing for election, some Labour voters would be right to ask where the public smoking ban was in the party's manifesto. As Sir Keir Starmer handily left the potentially divisive authoritarian measure off election leaflets, critics could argue he has little mandate to implement such sweeping new powers over public spaces.
The only anti-smoking policy to make it into the 2024 manifesto was a direct copy of proposals made by Rishi Sunak's Conservatives, in implementing a generational ban on the addictive and harmful product. Now it looks like even current smokers will not be able to evade the radical measures, being confined to private spaces such as their homes.
A public consultation will be launched before any legislation is brought before parliament and the finer points are decided by ministers, but with wide support in parliament for greater legislation to prevent smoking deaths, the outdoor smoking ban is unlikely to be voted down.
Smoking in public could become a thing of the past, like smoking indoors (Image: Getty)
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This would mark a continuation of Conservative-era policy to stop Britain smoking, a habit that kills around 80,000 Brits every year, which would have seen the minimum age of purchase rise every year, blocking younger generations from ever purchasing tobacco products.
Ministers will be hoping to tackle the scourge of secondhand smoke, which leads to the deaths of around 3000 non-smokers each year. Those worst affected can be children and those living with health conditions like asthma.
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In 2020, then-Boris Johnson's government issued a press release on the idea of an outdoor smoking ban, stating it would be bad for business. 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."
Private homes and gardens would not be affected by this smoking ban, nor other places where there is more space to avoid groups of smokers. This could make beaches and parks a grey area for enforcement of the brutal new rules leaked to the Sun.
A Department of 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 the harms of second-hand smoking. We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.”