Lucy Powell Champions Smoke-Free Vision Amid Concerns Over Hospitality Sector Impact

Lucy Powell, the Labour Party's leader in the House of Commons, has asserted that prohibiting smoking in outdoor areas of pubs is not meant to harm the hospitality sector. She argued that implementing a smoking ban in these areas could positively impact both the economy and health services.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Sunday, September 1, 2024, 11:

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A cabinet minister has asserted that the government's proposed measures to prohibit smoking in pub gardens are not aimed at undermining the hospitality sector.

Lucy Powell spoke on Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, expressing Labour's aim to establish a "smoke-free country." She mentioned that any actions taken towards this goal would be carried out in collaboration with potentially impacted businesses.

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The incoming administration had committed to reviving Rishi Sunak’s hallmark legislation aimed at prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to anyone aged 14 or younger, a plan that was put on hold prior to the election.

This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer suggested he might extend regulations to include a ban on smoking at outdoor venues, aiming to decrease the preventable deaths associated with tobacco consumption.

In response to concerns that the decision might harm businesses, Ms. Powell stated, "We are definitely not targeting the hospitality sector. We are behind the hospitality industry all the way. It's essential for our local communities, our main streets, and our economic health."

"I won't speculate on the specifics of upcoming legislation, but I will emphasize that any initiatives to broaden the scope of smoking regulations will be thoroughly discussed with stakeholders in the hospitality sector."

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She also mentioned that there has been a longstanding agreement on the desire for a smoke-free nation, emphasizing that the health and economic gains from such a move 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 embraced the new proposals enthusiastically, but leaders in the hospitality industry caution that these measures may deal a devastating blow to their businesses, already weakened by the pandemic and ongoing economic challenges.

Sir Keir stated that the prohibition might encompass beer gardens, al fresco dining areas, outdoor 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 considerable financial difficulties for hospitality businesses. She noted that these venues have made substantial investments in outdoor areas, trusting in their benefits, yet they still encounter economic hardships.

Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, remarked, "This poses an essential question: Are we close to turning into a nanny state? What comes after this?"

"While these actions are presumably taken with public health in mind, they carry the potential to polarize views and add new regulatory requirements for businesses that are already dealing with significant difficulties."

Several Tory MPs have expressed their 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, stating: "Our goal is to shield our kids from starting smoking and vaping. We crafted our smoke-free generation law with this aim in mind.

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

Reform leader Nigel Farage informed a newspaper that he would "forever avoid pubs if a ban on outdoor smoking were implemented."

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

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

ASH endorses the government's plans, emphasizing the necessity for designated outdoor smoking areas to discourage indoor smoking.

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