Councils start banning smoking outside pubs and restaurants

Five local authorities have banned smoking in pavement pubs, cafes and restaurants, with reports suggesting that others are considering following suit.

Last summer there was an attempt to push through an amendment to legislation in the House of Lords to make pavements smoke-free, but it failed. However, there is no doubting that the outdoor eating culture brought about by coronavirus restrictions has given the issue of smokers outside pubs and cafes a new visibility.

Now, Northumberland county council, Durham, North Tyneside, Newcastle, and the City of Manchester have all banned smoking on stretches of the pavement where bars, restaurants and cafes are licensed to put out tables. Additionally, although it does not have a policy, all the licences granted by Gateshead also stipulate that pavement cafes must be smoke-free.

According to reports, Oxfordshire is also planning to ban smoking from outdoor restaurants as part of a major strategy that aims to make the county smoke-free by 2025, which is five years ahead of the government’s plan for England as a whole.

Ash, the Action on Smoking and Health charity, said the pavement bans were popular with most customers, but pro-smoking groups say that local authorities should not interfere.

The latest tobacco control plan is set to be revealed by the government on 9 June, which will be debated in Parliament on the following day. Campaigners hope for tough new measures to control smoking and help people quit.