Anti-smoking and cancer support organisations have welcomed suggestions by the UK government over introducing a ban on smoking in some public spaces.
But representatives of the hospitality industry warned of serious economic harm to venues after many invested heavily in outdoor spaces following the indoor smoking ban.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has floated the idea of a ban that may include beer gardens, outdoor areas of restaurants and within the grounds of health facilities and sports venues.
Sir Keir said his government was “going to take decisions in this space” with more details later but added it was “important to get the balance right”.
Cancer Focus NI and ASH, the anti-smoking organisation, both welcomed theses first steps towards such a ban, with the former noting the proposal appears to go further than its position advocating a distance restriction outside hospitals.
The cancer support group, while describing the idea as “really positive”, said it would need to be phased and allied to smoking cessation funding as hospital staff, for example, might face a real struggle not being allowed to smoke anywhere on the grounds of a facility.
Naomi Thompson, of Cancer Focus NI said: "
“We have been calling for such a move as part of our ASH NI manifesto to deliver a smoke free Northern Ireland by 2035. Smoking is the single most entirely preventable cause of ill-health, disability, and death in the UK.
“In Northern Ireland, most adults don’t smoke but they are exposed to second hand smoke at outdoor venues. A ban would create a healthier society, encourage more people to quit, and reduce visibility of smoking to young people and prevent them from ever starting.
“However, any ban must be accompanied by increased funding for smoking cessation services to help individuals break the habit successfully.”
ASH described the potential ban as a “game changer” in the battle to eradicate smoking entirely.
Hospitality Ulster Chief Executive Colin Neill expressed concern at the talk of a ban on outdoor smoking in certain places “which could bring serious economic harm to hospitality venues”.
“You only have to look back to the significant pub closures we saw after the indoor smoking ban,” Mr Neill said.
“We already have really strict rules about where you can smoke outside our premises and most smokers are already considerate in using designated outdoor spaces, many of which businesses had to invest in when the smoking ban was brought in.”
