UK’s govt to ‘take decisions’ on outdoor smoking ban: Starmer

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday his government is considering extending smoking bans in some outdoor English areas, reportedly including pub gardens and outside stadiums, sparking a backlash among opponents.

The British leader said ministers are “going to take decisions in this space”, noting action was needed to curb preventable deaths and alleviate pressures on the beleaguered state-run National Health Service (NHS).

His comments follow media reports overnight that his new government may extend the existing indoor smoking ban to cover beer gardens and outdoor dining areas, stadium concourses, small parks and other places.

Pub and restaurant industry figures promptly criticised the mooted plans, arguing they could deter customers in a market already struggling with the long-term fallout from the pandemic and cost-of-living pressures.

But Starmer insisted that “we´ve got to take the action to reduce the burden on the NHS and reduce the burden on the taxpayer” from smoking-related preventable deaths.

“My starting point on this is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking,” he said.

“It´s a huge burden on the NHS, and, of course, it´s a burden on the taxpayer. So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space.”

Starmer added “more details will be revealed” in due course, noting it was “important to get the balance right” but that the NHS was “on its knees”.