Nearly two-thirds of people in Britain would support a ban on smoking in pub gardens, according to a new survey by YouGov for the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash). The poll of 13,259 adults found that 62 per cent backed extending smoke-free laws to outdoor hospitality areas.
The survey also revealed strong support for smoke-free zones in other outdoor settings: 93 per cent of respondents favoured smoke-free playgrounds, 78 per cent supported smoke-free bus stops, and 68 per cent backed smoke-free university and college campuses. More than nine in ten people believe smoke-free laws should cover children’s play areas.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Ash, said: “Smoke-free laws have been one of the biggest public health success stories in recent decades, but millions of people are still exposed to harmful second-hand smoke in outdoor settings. The public is clear that they want more places where they can breathe clean air.” She described extending the ban to pub gardens, play areas, university campuses and transport hubs as a “common-sense next step”.
The findings follow the recent passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which received royal assent last month, making the UK the first country in Europe to ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone aged 17 or younger. Government modelling suggests the legislation could reduce the number of smokers aged 14 and over from 5.5 million in 2023 to around 700,000 by 2056, and prevent an estimated 154,800 deaths in England by 2100.
A government consultation on extending smoke-free laws to outdoor spaces such as playgrounds and areas outside hospitals, as well as creating vape-free zones, closed on 8 May. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The Tobacco and Vapes Act is a historic step towards Britain’s first smoke-free generation… We are carefully considering responses [to the consultation].”
