Kent reacts to rumoured plans for pub garden smoking ban

The plans would target a range of locations, including pavements near universities and areas outside night clubs.

Transcript

00:00Earlier today, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the government was considering a ban on smoking

00:05in a range of outdoor venues.

00:07But despite the Prime Minister's concerns about the burden on the NHS, the plans have

00:12drawn criticism from the hospitality industry, including one Thanet landlord.

00:19We have really nice outdoor smoking areas.

00:22We have heaters, we have televisions there for people to be out and watch the sport.

00:26We have nice, comfortable seating and it works.

00:30And I don't find that there is a need, you know, sometimes you go, OK, there may be a

00:35need that wants to get sorted out here.

00:37I don't see where the need or the driver is coming from.

00:40But not all landlords are convinced the potential ban is a bad thing.

00:44I think so.

00:45I think it's a great idea, but it might differ.

00:47But everyone said that about the smoking ban, said it's a worse thing for pubs and whatever.

00:53Didn't really affect it that much, made restaurants a lot better, a lot nicer places to go to.

00:58And actually, I think there are even some smokers that agree that, especially now that

01:01you don't smoke inside pubs, they find it a better environment.

01:04But high street pubs, whereas sports bars, places like that, perhaps have a designated

01:08area for smokers, as long as it's just smokers and it's not interfering with anyone else.

01:13So it doesn't upset anyone.

01:14If the ban does come into force, ashtrays like this one here at the Tudor Rose could

01:19become a thing of the past.

01:21But it's not just pub gardens on the potential ban list.

01:25Smoking outside football stadiums, near children's parks, outside hospitals and universities,

01:31and even on restaurant terraces could all potentially face the axe.

01:37What do people in Medway make of all of this?

01:40I think it's a good thing because it's a lot to do with people's health and that as well.

01:44You shouldn't ban people from doing stuff outside.

01:47It's ridiculous.

01:48I don't really think there's a need to stop people smoking, especially in pub gardens.

01:53There's nothing worse than trying to eat something and somebody smoking at the next table and

01:57it blows over.

01:58So in a way it would be a good idea.

02:01A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told KNTV that, while they

02:07do not comment on leaks, smoking claims 80,000 lives a year and costs taxpayers billions.

02:15They say they are considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.

02:22Some of those measures have already been laid out, with plans to impose limits on the sale

02:27and marketing of vapes, as well as increasing the age at which people can buy cigarettes

02:32year on year to phase out smoking entirely.

02:36But for some, snuffing out smoking areas in Kent might be the most controversial proposal

02:42so far.

02:43Oliver Leeds of the Saks for KNTV in Rochester.