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Beer garden smoking ban ‘draconian’

Date published: 10 February 2010

Extending the smoking ban to beer gardens could be the final nail in the coffin for already struggling pubs, MPs are claiming.

Shipley MP Philip Davies and Leeds North-West MP Greg Mulholland fear Government proposals to extend the ban to areas outside pubs including the gardens would damage an already stretched industry.

Mr Mulholland, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, said while smoking had serious health implications there was a need for a balance to be struck between protecting the rights of non-smokers and the rights of adults who choose to smoke.

He said: “Just when pubs have got to grips with the smoking ban and have found ways to cater for non-smokers and smokers alike, this nanny state New Labour Government wants to ban something else.

“This really is quite ludicrous as well as draconian and will cause more damage to pubs that are already hard hit in the current climate.

“It is as if members of the Government wake up and think ‘What can I do to damage the pub trade today?

“It is high time Ministers woke up to the positive role that pubs play in communities and as a controlled, sociable drinking environment are actually an important part of the solution to problem drinking, rather than treating people as naughty children and trying to ban everything.”

Mr Davies added: “This sort of anti-smoking crusade is over the top. People can argue for or against a smoking ban in enclosed spaces but to include outside as well is just ludicrous.

“It is kicking an industry when it is down. I fear it will be the straw that breaks the camels back.”

The MPs fear the “draconian” measures will force people to stay at home and endanger children through passive smoking and force many more pubs to close.

Last week Health secretary Andy Burnham set out plans to halve the number of smokers in the UK to one in 10 by 2020.

Comments

What will be banned next, smoking in your own home?
This is one rule too many.
I don't smoke but have no objection to someone smoking outside in a beer garden.

I was a smoker for many years but since breaking the habit by will power I now find anyone smoking near to me to create an offensive aroma. However, to extend the no smoking ban to open areas is going too far. If people who smoke are prepared to stand outside in the winter months to smoke then they should not be prevented from doing so.

An excellent Socialist concept! Let us all vote Labour at the next election so that we can have more of these silly ideas!
Jim Dobbin should immediately adopt this approach in his manifesto; an absolute vote winner.

Charly, I disagree, my neighbour's smoke makes my life a misery. In the summer I cannot leave my windows open because their smoke blows into my bedrooms, and sitting in my own garden is not a nice experience when my neighbours and their friends and relatives retire to the garden for a cigarette. Even last night when the temperature was close to freezing I was choked by cigarette smoke on my own driveway due to outdoor smokers. I would only allow people to smoke in their own homes.

Both smoking and drinking are highly dangerous, and I have been victim to both habits. Anything that brings attention to the hazards and perils of this ought to be supported, regardless of the infringement on civil liberties.