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Banning smoking in outdoor pavement areas would be "insane"
Fri 3rd December, 2021
Forest has welcomed reports that the Cabinet has rejected a plan by health secretary Sajid Javid to ban smoking in pavement areas outside pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Director Simon Clark said:
“Banning smoking in pavement areas would be insane. There is no justification for the government to intervene on public health grounds because there is no evidence that smoking outside is a significant risk to non-smokers.
“Having survived, with great difficulty, many of the regulations imposed during the pandemic, the last thing the hospitality industry needs is the threat of the smoking ban being extended to outdoor areas.
"Government should be reducing red tape, not adding to it with arbitrary regulations that can only hurt the hospitality industry by reducing customer choice."
He added:
“Under current regulations pubs, cafes and restaurants that provide outdoor seating on pavements must offer separate non-smoking areas.
“Smoking areas are optional and if proprietors don’t want to provide one they don’t have to, but they must have the freedom to choose based on customer demand and what’s best for their business.”
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- Forest condemns Local Government Association call to ban smoking outside pubs, cafes and restaurants
- Forest condemns move to ban smoking outside pubs and cafes
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- Councils must prioritise help for local businesses not stop smoking services
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- Implying that smokers are a financial burden to society is "dishonest" and "economically illiterate" says Forest
- Ban on flavoured e-cigarettes would be a "massive own goal"
- Ireland: ‘Butt Out’ campaign aims to stop cigarette vending machine ban
- Poll: Public split on effectiveness of tobacco control laws
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- "A bin the butt campaign that ignores the importance of bins is a bit of a joke, to be honest."
- Vaping not a substitute for all prisoners who smoke, says Forest
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- Plain packs: Forest calls for UK policy review following "five years of failure" in Australia
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- Health minister should decline WHO award
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- Councils urged to review funding of anti-tobacco campaign group
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- "Increasing cost of tobacco benefits no-one apart from spivs and criminals"
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- Jury still out on plain packaging says Forest
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- Smoking in cars with children: "education better than big stick"
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- "What next? Standardised packaging for alcohol and sugary drinks?"
- No public desire for plain packaging say campaigners
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- Government must resist temptation to over-regulate electronic cigarettes, says Forest
- Government urged to publish plain pack consultation report "promptly" and "without further delay"
- Forest condemns decision to bring forward plain packaging legislation
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- Tory MP leads opposition to ban on smoking in cars
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- Register now if you want to change the smoking ban
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