British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that his government is considering implementing stricter anti-smoking regulations. The proposed measures may include banning smoking in outdoor areas such as pub gardens and restaurant patios.
The plans have sparked a backlash from a number of quarters, including Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, who accused the Labour Party of imposing its will against the wishes of the public.
The MP for Clacton wrote in the The Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Once again, the Labour Party is showing its authoritarian socialist state control instincts and mentality. The rumored ban on smoking in pub gardens or on the pavement outside pubs will kill off the traditional pub forever. For my own part, I simply would not go to the pub ever again if these restrictions are imposed."
Representatives from the hospitality industry, as well as other businesses, echoed Farage's views, warning of further financial strain on an already struggling sector.
Clive Watson, pub entrepreneur and chairman of the City Pub Group, dismissed the idea as "bonkers," arguing that it would drive customers away and ultimately provide no health benefits.
Starmer's announcement followed a report by The Sun newspaper, which suggested that his government is exploring a range of potential restrictions, including prohibiting smoking outside places such as hospitals, universities, and sports venues.
Pub closures have surged in recent months, with 80 shutting down each month in the first quarter of 2024—a 51 percent increase compared to with same period last year, according to official data for England and Wales.
"As we consider these potential restrictions, we must ask whether this approach is truly in the public interest or if it risks overregulation at the expense of personal freedom and business viability," said Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association.
An opinion shared by Farage: "The 2006 indoor smoking ban, which even included private members' clubs, saw an inevitable decline in pub takings. This has led, in part, to the closure of thousands of pubs and clubs since that time," he wrote in the Telegraph.
Smoking has been prohibited inside pubs, restaurants, and most workplaces in the UK since 2007. However, smoking-related illnesses continue to place a significant burden on the National Health Service (NHS), costing the system over £2.5 billion annually in England alone, according to NHS data.
Speaking during a visit to Paris, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer emphasized the need for action. "My starting point is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people die each year due to smoking," he said.
"We're going to make decisions in this area, with more details to come, but we must address these preventable deaths to ease the pressure on the NHS and the taxpayer."
The Labour government, which came to power in July, has already pledged to reintroduce a legislative proposal from the previous Conservative administration that would ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009. The plan, which was shelved due to an early election call, aims to gradually raise the legal smoking age each year.
While the number of smokers in the UK has dropped by two-thirds since the 1970s, around 6.4 million people—approximately 13% of the population—still smoke, according to official statistics. The legal age for purchasing tobacco was raised from 16 to 18 in 2007, alongside the indoor smoking ban.
Health experts have generally welcomed the potential outdoor smoking restrictions, saying they as a necessary step to protect public health.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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