The government is considering banning smoking in a number of open-air spaces, according to leaked Whitehall documents.
This includes pub gardens and outside restaurants, hospitals, sports grounds and playgrounds.
These measures are being proposed as part of a tougher version of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which was dropped before the election.
Last month, the King confirmed that the newly-elected Labour government will revive the bill, which includes implementing a smoking ban by making it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.
It also includes provisions to reduce youth vaping, such as the regulation of the flavours, contents and packaging of vaping products.
Health experts have reportedly welcomed the leaked proposals, while some ministers have voiced concerns about the impact on the hospitality sector.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told The Sun: ‘It’ll be the end of pubs.’
‘Range of measures’ being considered
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘We do not comment on leaks.
‘Smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS, and costs taxpayers billions. We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from the harms of second-hand smoking.
‘We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.’
Dr Layla McCay is the director of policy at the NHS Confederation. In response to the leaked proposals, she told BBC Radio 4: ‘I’m obviously in favour of measures that help abolish smoking.
‘We have seen from the previous government – and from this current government and indeed from wider society – this strong commitment to move towards abolishing smoking.
‘It is absolutely the health challenge of our time. It’s the leading cause of preventable illness in the UK, so we are heartened to see that progress is being made and that the intention is moving forward to really address one of Britain’s main drivers of health inequalities.’
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