Smoking in Beer Gardens Faces Likely Extinguishment Under Starmer’s Proposed Public Health Crusade

Plans to ban smoking in pub gardens likely to pass

With a strong majority in the Commons, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to easily implement a ban on smoking in beer gardens.

Senior political reporter @joncraig

Friday, August 30, 2024, 7:

Could the days of smoking while sipping a beer be coming to an end? It seems highly likely.

Labour's overwhelming 172-seat majority in the House of Commons makes it highly likely that smoking will be banned in the outdoor areas of pubs, football stadiums, nightclubs, and restaurants.

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During his trip to Paris, a city known for its affection for Gauloises cigarettes, Sir Keir Starmer made it clear that he supports ending outdoor smoking, with a tobacco prohibition intended to prevent 80,000 annual deaths.

The backlash from bars and eateries, along with the uproar from Conservative MPs accusing the Prime Minister of fostering a "Nanny State," was expected. However, it appears that the general populace supports stricter cigarette regulations.

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A quick survey conducted by YouGov indicates that 58% support the prohibition while only 35% are against it. This will likely comfort Sir Keir as he begins what he views as a campaign for public health.

He contends that the 80,000 annual deaths from smoking, which could be avoided, place a significant strain on the NHS and taxpayers. Consequently, it appears that smoking in beer gardens is likely to become a thing of the past.

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The prime minister stated that the NHS is "struggling significantly," and emphasized: "We need to alleviate the pressure. My goal is to see the NHS revitalized."

We should anticipate hearing much more of that reasoning.

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To the best of our knowledge, Sir Keir does not smoke. When questioned during interviews about whether he used drugs in his university days, his only admission was: "I enjoyed myself as a student. We put in a lot of effort and had a lot of fun."

Tony Blair, who implemented the indoor smoking ban in 2007 towards the end of his tenure as Prime Minister, has disclosed that he quit smoking just 15 minutes before his wedding in 1980.

"He mentioned it was part of the agreement," he revealed over drinks at the bar, explaining that Cherie had given him an ultimatum. His confession sparked claims that there's nothing quite like the fervor of someone who has quit smoking.

Discover more: Exploring the mechanics of a ban on outdoor smoking.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has occasionally been seen enjoying a sneaky smoke. Historically, several prominent political figures have been known for their smoking habits, including Winston Churchill, Ken Clarke, Michael Gove, and John Reid.

In 2007, when Parliament passed legislation prohibiting smoking indoors, even MPs known for their smoking habits, such as the boisterous beer-enthusiast from Liverpool, Peter Kilfoyle, supported the measure, citing public health considerations as their reason.

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During the discussions in the Commons, there were suggestions to allow exceptions, such as for private clubs. While there was a supportive vote to exclude working men's clubs from the ban, in the end, the Members of Parliament decided on a comprehensive prohibition.

It's also important to remember that the bill currently under consideration in parliament, which aims to gradually eliminate smoking and vaping, was initially introduced by Rishi Sunak during his speech at the Conservative Party conference last year.

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However, the proposal was unpopular among numerous Conservative MPs, and during an unrestricted vote in April, 57 Conservatives opposed Mr. Sunak's Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Additionally, 106 MPs chose to abstain or were absent. Despite this, with support from Labour, the bill passed with a vote of 383-67 in favor.

Among the six Tory leadership contenders, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick opposed, while Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, and Mel Stride supported. Priti Patel abstained from voting.

Before a vote in the Commons on an outdoor ban takes place, a range of pressing concerns needs to be addressed.

How does smoking on sidewalks outside bars or eateries stand? Or near hospitals, educational institutions like schools and universities, sports arenas, fitness centers, or various athletic facilities?

Numerous members of Parliament will certainly have opinions on these issues. However, one of the newest MPs from Westminster, the representative from Clacton who is fond of beer and tobacco, has a straightforward message for the Prime Minister: stay out of it!

"Should they prohibit outdoor smoking, you won't catch me at the pub again," declared Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in an article for The Telegraph website. Quite a bold statement!

Up to now, it seems that public sentiment is not in favor of Mr. Farage's proposal to prohibit smoking outdoors. Additionally, a significant number of MPs are expected to support a ban on smoking in beer gardens.

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