The Government has dropped plans to ban smoking in outdoor areas such as beer gardens and outside stadiums as part of an extended smoking ban, Wes Streeting has confirmed. The Health Secretary told GB News: “We’ve got to balance the upside benefits on public health with any potential negative… either on people’s liberties or on people’s livelihoods.
“And it’s no secret that the hospitality sector has been… been through the mill in recent years. The impact of the pandemic, the challenges in the wider economy, the amount of money we’ve got spare in our pockets. And there aren’t many advantages to leaks of Government discussions, but one of the advantages of this leak was that it’s meant we’ve been able to have a discussion with the hospitality sector.
“And based on the evidence on the upside risks and the arguments on the downside risks, we’ve chosen not to proceed with the outdoor hospitality proposal at this time.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill still aims to stop smoking and vaping outside schools and children’s playgrounds, he said. Proposed legislation aimed at creating the “first smoke-free generation” is set to be introduced in Parliament.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which prevents anyone born after January 1 2009 from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought, will be introduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday. It is hoped the “historic” legislation could “save thousands of lives and protect the NHS ”, according to ministers.
The Bill will introduce restrictions on vape advertising and sponsorship, as well as restricting flavours, displays and the packaging of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to children and young people. Disposable vapes will be banned from June 1 2025 under separate environmental legislation.