A minister has said the government’s plans to ban smoking in pub beer gardens is not an attack “on the hospitality industry.”
The Prime Minister has said he wants to put a stop to “preventable series of deaths” which is caused by smoking and costs the NHS millions.
Commons Leader Lucy Powell said that Labour will consult the hospitality sector over the smoking ban should it go ahead.
Powell told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Philips, “We’re certainly not attacking the hospitality industry. We support the hospitality industry. It’s vital to our communities, our high street, our economy.
“I’m not going to pre-empt what is or isn’t going to be in a future piece of legislation. But what I would say is that any such measures to extend some of these issues around smoking will be done in full consultation with business.”
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality warned a ban on smoking in outdoor spaces at pubs, restaurants and hotels will come “with the prospect of serious economic harm to hospitality venues.
“This ban would not only affect pubs and nightclubs, but hotels, cafes and restaurants that have all invested significantly in good faith in outdoor spaces and continue to face financial challenges.”
