Lucy Powell Advocates for Outdoor Smoking Ban, Asserts No Harm to Hospitality Industry

Lucy Powell, the leader of the Labour Party in the Commons, has asserted that prohibiting smoking in outdoor areas of pubs is not meant to harm the hospitality sector. She argued that making the UK smoke-free would be advantageous for both the economy and the health service.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Sunday, September 1, 2024, 11:

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A cabinet minister has asserted that the government's proposed plans to prohibit smoking in pub gardens do not constitute an assault on the hospitality sector.

Lucy Powell spoke to Trevor Phillips on Sky News' Sunday Morning, indicating that Labour aims to establish a "smoke-free country." She emphasized that any steps towards this goal would be taken after consulting with potentially impacted businesses.

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The incoming administration has committed to reviving Rishi Sunak's key anti-smoking legislation, which aimed to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to individuals who were 14 years old or younger at the time of its proposal. However, this initiative was postponed prior to the electoral process.

This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated that he might extend prohibitions to include smoking at outdoor venues as well, aiming to decrease the number of deaths caused by tobacco.

When questioned on the assertion that this decision might harm businesses, Ms. Powell responded, "We are definitely not targeting the hospitality sector. We are advocates for it. It plays a crucial role in our communities, our main streets, and our economy."

"I won't speculate about potential contents of upcoming bills, but I will emphasize that any steps to broaden regulations on smoking will involve thorough discussions with stakeholders in the hospitality sector."

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Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader in Westminster, has described the proposed smoking ban as merely a distraction from the grim economic outlook associated with Labour's austerity measures.

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She also noted that there has been a longstanding agreement on achieving a smoke-free nation, which would bring significant health and economic advantages.

Annually, smoking is responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths and is estimated to cost England's NHS roughly £2.6 billion.

Health advocates have praised the new proposals, but hospitality industry executives caution that these measures might deliver a devastating blow, especially after the challenges posed by the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Sir Keir mentioned that the prohibition might extend to beer gardens, alfresco dining areas, outdoor sports facilities, hospitals, nightclubs, and select small parks.

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Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, expressed concerns that this poses a significant risk of economic damage to hospitality locations. She noted that these venues have made substantial investments in outdoor areas and are still experiencing financial difficulties.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, expressed concern, asking, "Does this situation signal our shift towards a nanny state? What will follow?"

"While these actions might be motivated by legitimate health concerns, they could potentially polarize views and add an additional layer of regulation for businesses that are already dealing with significant difficulties."

Several Conservative MPs expressed opposition to the initiative, even though they had put forward their own measures to prevent smoking among the youth. Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins shared on X, saying, "We aim to shield our kids from starting smoking and vaping. Our legislation for a smoke-free generation was created with this purpose in mind."

"However, we did not intend to prohibit adults from smoking outdoors. Labour's approach is jeopardizing our hospitality industry."

Reform leader Nigel Farage informed a newspaper that he would "never visit a pub again if smoking outdoors were prohibited."

In 2007, the previous Labour administration implemented a prohibition on smoking within pubs and other indoor public areas.

According to Action on Smoking Health (ASH), there was a 2.4% decrease in hospital admissions for heart attacks and a 12.3% decrease in hospital admissions for childhood asthma within one year.

ASH endorses the government's plans, yet emphasizes the necessity of providing designated outdoor areas for smokers to ensure they do not resort to smoking inside.

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