Smoking ban: list of places affected by new Labour Party law | UK | News

Several outdoor venues are set to be included in Sir Keir Starmer’s new smoking restrictions laws.

Leaked government documents reveal ministers are considering tougher rules on smoking in public places amid concerns over the number of Britons exposed to second-hand smoke.

Outdoor restaurants, small parks and pavements outside nightclubs could be included in the government’s bill which envisages “a series of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free”.

Vapers could also be affected by the new rollout, with shisha bars potentially worst hit by the proposed restrictions.

This could mean that those arrested could face a severe punishment or fine from a police officer, although few details are yet available on the reported proposals.

Places where smoking could be banned under new plans

Current plans, still being finalised, propose banning cigarette smoking outside hospitals, schools, university campuses, sports grounds and children’s playgrounds.

The exact distance at which a person can smoke from these places remains to be determined.

The ban will not extend to private homes or large open spaces such as major national parks or streets.

The new rules are expected to be announced as part of a tougher tobacco and e-cigarette bill, originally designed to implement Rishi Sunak’s plan to phase out cigarettes.

It is estimated that despite the £8.8 billion in tax revenue that addictive nicotine products bring into government coffers, the UK then spends around £21 billion on smoking-related health problems.

The move follows Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair’s decision to initially introduce a ban on smoking indoors in 2007.

Years of studies have shown that this measure did not harm businesses, but would probably have saved thousands of lives.

A public consultation will be launched before any legislation is introduced in parliament and the details will be decided by ministers, but with widespread support in parliament for tougher legislation to prevent smoking-related deaths, the outdoor smoking ban is unlikely to be defeated.