Plans to prohibit smoking outside pubs are reportedly being shelved following pushback from the hospitality sector.
Earlier this year, leaked proposals indicated that the Government was considering a ban on smoking in certain outdoor areas, including those at restaurants and hospitals, as part of efforts to enhance public health.
The potential restrictions, which might affect beer gardens and areas outside stadiums, sparked concern among industry stakeholders.
According to The Guardian, Downing Street has decided to halt the proposed ban on outdoor smoking, with one official dismissing it as an “unserious policy”.
A source from the Government has confirmed that a final decision is yet to be made.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is slated for introduction to Parliament before the festive season.
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated just this week that Labour’s version of the smoking bill will be “more ambitious” than what was put forward by the previous Conservative administration.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill presented in the last session of parliament aimed to incrementally increase the legal age for tobacco purchases, effectively making it illegal for anyone born after January 1, 2009, to smoke.
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