Lucy Powell Advocates for Outdoor Smoking Ban, Insists It’s Not an Attack on Hospitality

Lucy Powell, the Commons leader for Labour, has asserted that prohibiting outdoor smoking, particularly in pub gardens, is not meant to harm the hospitality sector. She argued that a smoke-free nation could positively impact both the economy and the healthcare system.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Sunday, September 1, 2024, 11:

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

Lucy Powell spoke to Sky News on 'Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips' and mentioned that the Labour Party aims to establish a "smoke-free country". She added that the steps to accomplish this would be taken after consulting with the businesses that might be impacted.

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The newly formed administration had committed to reviving Rishi Sunak's key tobacco legislation, aimed at prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to anyone aged 14 and younger, a plan that was put on hold prior to the elections.

This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced his willingness to extend smoking bans to include outdoor venues, aiming to decrease the preventable fatalities associated with tobacco consumption.

When questioned on the notion that this decision might devastate commerce, Ms. Powell responded, "We are definitely not targeting the hospitality sector. We are backers of it. It plays a crucial role in our communities, our main streets, and our economic system."

"I won't speculate on the contents of upcoming legislation, but I will emphasize that any initiatives to broaden regulations concerning smoking will be fully discussed with stakeholders in the hospitality industry."

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She mentioned that there has been a widespread agreement for quite some time that the goal is to achieve a smoke-free nation, and the advantages to health and economy from this would be substantial.

Smoking is responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths annually and is estimated to cost England's NHS roughly £2.6 billion each year.

Health advocates have praised the new initiatives, however, representatives from the hospitality industry 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 encompass beer gardens, alfresco dining areas, open-air sports facilities, hospitals, nightclubs, and certain smaller parks.

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Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, warned that this poses a significant economic threat to hospitality venues. She highlighted that these establishments have made substantial investments in outdoor areas in good faith, despite ongoing financial difficulties.

Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, questioned: "This brings us to a crucial point: Are we close to evolving into a nanny state? What will follow?"

"While these actions are likely motivated by concerns for public health, they carry the potential to polarize views and add more regulatory constraints to companies that are already dealing with significant difficulties."

Several Conservative MPs voiced their opposition to the initiative, despite their own measures aimed at reducing smoking among the youth. Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins expressed on X, "Our goal is to shield our kids from starting to smoke and vape. Our legislation for a smoke-free generation was crafted with this purpose in mind.

"However, our agenda did not include prohibiting outdoor smoking for adults. Labour is jeopardizing our hospitality industry in the process."

Reform leader Nigel Farage informed a newspaper that he would "never visit a pub again if a ban on outdoor smoking were implemented."

The previous Labour administration implemented a prohibition on smoking within pubs and various other indoor public areas in 2007.

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

ASH has expressed their backing for the government's initiatives, emphasizing the necessity for designated outdoor smoking areas to discourage indoor smoking among tobacco users.

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