Lucy Powell Advocates for Smoke-Free Outdoor Hospitality Areas, Insisting It Benefits Health and Economy

Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons for the Labour Party, has spoken out in defense of possible regulations that would prohibit smoking in outdoor areas of pubs. She argued that moving towards a smoke-free nation would be advantageous for both the economy and the National Health Service.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Sunday, September 1, 2024, 11:

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

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

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The freshly installed 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 election.

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 that are preventable and associated with tobacco consumption.

When questioned about concerns that this action might harm businesses, Ms. Powell responded, "We are definitely not targeting the hospitality sector. We back this industry wholeheartedly. It's crucial for our communities, our main streets, and our economy."

"I won’t speculate on the contents of upcoming legislation, however, I can confirm that any actions to broaden regulations concerning smoking will be fully discussed with those in the hospitality industry."

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SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has described the proposed smoking ban as merely a distraction from Labour's pervasive austerity narrative.

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She noted that "for quite some time, there has been a unanimous agreement on achieving a smoke-free nation," emphasizing that the "health and economic advantages would be significant."

Annually, smoking is responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths and is estimated to burden the NHS in England with costs around £2.6 billion.

Health advocates have expressed support for the new proposals, however, representatives from the hospitality industry caution that this could severely impact their businesses, particularly after the challenges posed by the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living increases.

Sir Keir mentioned that the prohibition might extend to beer gardens, al fresco dining areas, open-air sports facilities, hospitals, nightclubs, and certain smaller parks.

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Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, expressed concerns that this could lead to significant economic damage for hospitality establishments, which have heavily invested in outdoor areas and are still grappling with financial difficulties.

Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, posed the question: "Are we nearing the edge of becoming a nanny state? What comes next?"

"Although these actions are likely motivated by concerns for public health, they might cause division among the populace and add additional regulatory strain on companies that are already grappling with significant difficulties."

Several Conservative MPs have expressed opposition to the strategy, even though they have suggested their own measures to reduce smoking among the youth. Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins shared on X, "Our goal is to shield our children from starting to smoke and use e-cigarettes. Our legislation for a smoke-free generation was crafted with this purpose."

"However, banning outdoor smoking for adults was never in our agenda. Labour's actions are jeopardizing our hospitality industry."

Political figure Nigel Farage informed a publication that he would "stop visiting pubs altogether if smoking outdoors were prohibited."

In 2007, the previous Labour government implemented a prohibition on smoking within pubs and other enclosed 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 has expressed their backing for the government's initiatives, yet they emphasize the necessity of providing designated outdoor areas for smokers to ensure they avoid smoking inside.

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