British Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday that his government is mulling over new anti-smoking laws that would ban Brits from smoking outside of pubs and nightclubs. The controversial move, which has already received widespread pushback online, comes after the Labour government also confirmed it will move ahead with plans made by the previous Conservative government to ban the sale of cigarettes to people born in or after 2009.
When asked about reports of the new plans, Prime Minister Starmer said on Thursday, August 29, that he
“My starting point on this is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That’s a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS, and of course it’s a burden on the taxpayer,” Starmer said.
“Yes, we are going to take decisions in this space. More details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths and we’ve got to take the action to reduce the burden on the NHS and to reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”
A reporter reminded Starmer that when he was running for election, he argued that politics should “tread more lightly on people’s lives,” to which the newly-elected prime minister argued that it was a matter of getting the “balance right.”
How Will the Ban Work?
While the full details have yet to be revealed, a report from The Sun newspaper suggested that the Labour government is planning to expand on 2007 legislation that restricted the smoking of cigarettes in restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs.
Labour appears to be looking at banning the smoking of cigarettes on pub grounds, including pub gardens, outside of nightclubs and outside of hospitals. According to The Sun’s report, the ban would also extend to sports grounds, university grounds, and other public outdoor facilities. The rules would theoretically place a burden on the owner of private properties to enforce the rules themselves, as the law would impact private property as well as government-owned properties.
The ban has already been criticized by the Conservative Party, now His Majesty’s official Opposition, and is facing additional scrutiny from hospitality bosses who warn that banning smoking in pubs and nightclubs would hurt the nightlife and hospitality industries.
Adam Brooks, a British pub owner and political commentator, noted that one in eight British people smoke, meaning pubs and nightclubs could lose yet more custom.
“I’m a non smoker, but it’s clear that smoking outside does not put others health at risk, it’s THEIR choice, Keir Starmer & Labour are attacking hospitality, pubs and nightclubs are on life support, 1 in 8 people smoke, this will cost jobs, businesses and livelihoods,” Brooks said on Thursday.
Some 6.4 million people in the United Kingdom smoke regularly, and while the number of smokers has dropped significantly since the 1970s, it means that some 13% of the British public still smoke cigarettes.
The news comes as Britain’s pub industry continues to hurt, following years of pub closures worsened by COVID-19 lockdowns. In February, 2022, England’s oldest pub, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, was closed down as a result of pandemic-induced financial hardships. The pub dates back to the 8th century and remained open during the Black Plague.
Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, warned that the possible restrictions could make many hospitality companies and pubs non-viable.
“As we consider the implications of these potential restrictions, we must question whether such an approach is truly in the public interest, or whether it risks over-regulation at the cost of personal freedom and business viability,” Kill said.
Does that include the skunk weed ganja? I think that’s been made mandatory in most blue American cities.