UK outdoor smoking ban stalls amid government split, hospitality industry survival concerns

According to a report from NME on October 28th, the UK government is said to be trying to block Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plan to ban smoking outside bars and clubs.

In August of this year, Stammer proposed implementing a smoking ban in bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and outdoor music venues.

This regulation is part of the "Tobacco and E-cigarette Act", which also intends to prohibit individuals born in 2009 or later from purchasing tobacco products in the UK. However, this proposal has sparked controversy. Hospitality industry professionals argue that this will exacerbate the current crisis faced by bars, nightclubs, and music venues. The hospitality industry association points out that the ban could cause "severe economic harm" to hospitality venues, while the British Beer and Pub Association describes the plan as "deeply concerning and difficult to understand", and as another blow to "the survival potential of our vital community assets".

Reports have recently emerged that officials at the British Prime Minister's office are pushing back against this ban, with some arguing that it is "not serious" policy because there is "insufficient evidence" to prove significant health risks to non-smokers. It is alleged that key figures in Downing Street are urging Starmar to drop the ban, including House of Commons leader Lucy Powell and Prime Minister's office director Morgan McSweeney. Some lawmakers are feeling "alarm" at the potential harm to the hospitality industry, however Starmar has previously refused to rule out the proposal.

Since March 2020, 37% of clubs in the UK have permanently closed, with an average of three closing each week and 150 closing annually. The latest data from the Night Time Industries Association shows that if this trend continues, all clubs in the UK will be "extinct" by December 31, 2029. Not only are clubs facing challenges, but the Music Venue Trust (MVT) highlighted in a January survey that 2023 will be a "disastrous year" for grassroots music venues, with 125 UK venues abandoning live music last year, and more than half completely shutting down.

Since July 1, 2007, smoking has been illegal in any pub, restaurant, coffee shop, nightclub, performance venue, and most workplaces and work vehicles in the UK. In January of this year, the UK government announced plans to further curb the rising trend of youth smoking by banning disposable e-cigarettes.