Hatfield reacts to Sir Keir Starmer's smoking ban plan

Keir Starmer refused to rule out a ban on smoking outdoors when questioned yesterday (August 29), following reports in national newspapers that the government are planning to announce new laws.

Smoking has been a hot-button political issue this year, with the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announcing plans back in April to ban the sale of cigarettes for future generations.

But the plans have been met with a negative reaction from publicans who fear the negative impact on their businesses at a time when the hospitality sector is already struggling.

James Wyatt from the Hatfield Tap, said: "It's going to very negatively impact the pub trade.

"We'd see a loss of footfall because a lot of our trade from regulars who are smokers. And most of the students we get in are smokers, so I'm very worried about the loss of customers and impact on our trade."

He feels that area around his establishment will particularly suffer, saying: "Being in a residential area, if people couldn't smoke in our beer garden, they'd smoke in somebody's front garden."

James also fears for the health of the hospitality sector following the news.

He said: "It's not just us, this will massively hurt the drinking culture in the UK.

"After Covid, our industry was affected the most. We're still trying to climb back from that, but it feels like every time new legislation is put in place it seems to negatively impact the hospitality industry."

Reaction from readers on social media has also been negative, with one writing that the plans are "another nail in the hospitality coffin."

Another wrote: "If people want to smoke outside let them."

A third added: "I agree it should be stopped outside hospitals but not otherwise."

While no legislation has been tabled at this stage, changes to the law around smoking seem to be inevitable, with all eyes on Parliament as it returns from summer recess next week.