The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that the government is looking at the tougher rules on outdoor smoking banned. This initiative is taken to reduce the number of preventable deaths due to tobacco use.
In response to the reports that smoking could be prohibited in some outdoor spaces in England, the UK prime minister said “We have got to take action” to reduce the burden on NHS.
Although the details are unclear, smoking could be banned at outdoor restaurants, pub gardens, sports grounds, and outdoor hospitals.
Health experts have welcomed the initiatives, but some ministers have raised concerns about the impact the ban could have on the hospitality sector. According to some ministers, banning outdoor smoking is a sensible approach to help people stop smoking.
Some business owners also have raised concerns. According to Pub Landlady, age 55, pubs should decide whether they prefer to go smoke-free and also added that it should not be upon the government’s decision. She also added that this could be another hurdle that they have to face in the hospitality sector.
According to the education minister, Baroness Jacqui, it is a sensible approach and reduces the smoking habit of many people. Every year around 80,000 people die every year due to smoking-related diseases.
So, she expressed that this initiative may cut down the amount. She said that this approach also means that there are few places where you can smoke. So, the people who are active smokers may give up smoking.
Health authorities also said that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Pub garden smoking ban would apply only to England. However, it remains unclear if it would apply to the rest of the United Kingdom. But the devolved governments may choose to apply similar rules everywhere in the UK.
In response to questions, Sir Keir said that “the government was going to take decisions” in space. He also added that more details would be revealed further. He also added that he thinks it is important to get the balance. He added that the NHS was “on its knees”.
Sir Keir stated that it is a preventable series of deaths, and they have got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and to reduce the burden on the taxpayers.
