Lucy Powell Advocates for Smoke-Free Pub Gardens, Denies Targeting Hospitality Industry

Lucy Powell, leader of Labour in the Commons, asserts that prohibiting smoking in outdoor pub areas is not meant to harm the hospitality sector. She argued that making the UK smoke-free could positively impact both the economy and healthcare services.

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 attack on the hospitality sector.

Lucy Powell spoke on Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, expressing Labour's ambition to establish a "smoke-free country." She stated that steps toward this goal would be taken "in consultation" with the businesses that might be impacted.

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The incoming administration had committed to reviving Rishi Sunak's key tobacco legislation, which aimed to prevent anyone aged 14 and younger from ever purchasing cigarettes, although it had been 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, in an effort to lower the preventable fatalities associated with tobacco consumption.

When questioned about concerns that this decision might harm businesses, Ms. Powell responded, "We are definitely not targeting the hospitality sector. We stand behind it fully because it's essential for our local communities, main streets, and overall economy."

"I won't speculate on the specifics of potential future laws, but I will emphasize that any steps to broaden regulations concerning smoking will be fully discussed with those in the hospitality industry."

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She also mentioned that there has been a longstanding agreement on the goal of achieving a smoke-free nation and emphasized that the health and economic advantages of this would be significant.

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

Health advocates have praised the new proposals, but hospitality industry executives caution that these measures might deliver a devastating blow 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 certain small parks.

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Kate Nicholls, the head of UKHospitality, warned that this poses a significant risk of economic damage to hospitality businesses, which have "heavily invested in outdoor areas in good faith and are still dealing with financial struggles."

Michael Kill, the Chief Executive Officer of the Night Time Industries Association, commented, "This brings up an essential issue: Are we on the verge of turning into a nanny state? What will happen now?"

"While these actions are likely influenced by concerns for public health, they could potentially polarize views and place additional regulatory demands on companies that are already dealing with significant difficulties."

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

"However, it was never our intention to prevent adults from smoking outdoors. Labour's approach is jeopardizing our hospitality industry."

Reform leader Nigel Farage declared to a newspaper that he would "forever avoid pubs if they prohibited outdoor smoking."

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

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

ASH endorses the government's plans, yet emphasizes the necessity for designated outdoor smoking areas to deter people from smoking inside.

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