Proposal to ban smoking outside pubs and restaurants "insane"

Tue 12th September, 2023

Campaigners have slammed a proposal to ban smoking outside pubs and restaurants.

An amendment to the Government’s Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, tabled by Lord Young of Cookham, seeks to prohibit smoking in licensed pavement areas where people are eating and drinking.

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said:

“This is insane. There is absolutely no justification for the government to ban smoking outside pubs and restaurants because there is no evidence that smoking in the open air poses a significant risk to non-smokers.”

He added:

“At stake is the ability of small businesses, including cafes, pubs and bars, to choose policies that work best for them and their customers.

“Government should be reducing red tape, not adding to it with unnecessary regulations that can only hurt the hospitality industry.”

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