Should Smoking Be Banned in Public Places?

Keir Starmer’s recent confirmation of the government’s desire to ban smoking outside pubs and other public places is designed to reduce the habit in public. This could help curb a dangerous and often lethal habit in environments where both smokers and non-smokers are negatively affected by cigarettes’ harmful chemicals.

Curbing a Killer - Smoking is inherently lethal, killing 6 million people per year according to Tobacco Control. The huge number of smoking-related deaths worldwide suggests that it is too destructive to be left as a matter of free choice and even in a country like the UK with relatively low smoking rates, should be reduced as much as possible. Public health experts have supported the Labour proposals as a positive step towards better public health, suggesting that the plan will be effective.

The Damage Done - Smoking is damaging to both the public environment and the the natural environment. The UK has already banned the practice in all enclosed workspaces, public buildings and transport in England and Scotland, indicating the damage it can do not just to those who smoke but to those around them, as passive smoking is a well-known contributor to the same damaging effects suffered by those who smoke. Furthermore, both the production and use of cigarettes is bad for the environment for a variety of reasons, meaning even stronger discouragement of tobacco use can only be a good thing.

Public health experts have supported the Labour proposals as a positive step towards better public health

Minor Impact on Business - Public smoking is not a necessary part of commercial success. The Department of Health reported that 81% of companies consider ‘smoke-free’ legislation a good idea, with 40% recording a positive impact compared to just 3% who reported a negative one. As for pubs, some have banned the practice since as early as 1994. Yougov polling suggests that smoking bans in the UK are supported by a majority (51%) with only 24% who would “strongly oppose” it, indicating more support for smoke free pub gardens than opposition.

Bans on smoking in public can be seen as a step too far. They may even fail to improve public health so the restrictions on freedom that they entail are simply not justifiable.

An Unnecessary Step - The Annual Population Survey has recorded an 8-point percentage decline in adult smokers since 2011, down to 11.9% from 12.9% between 2022 and 23. A consistent decrease in usage fits the government goal of a virtually smoke-free England by 2030, as a projected 95% or more of the adult population will not smoke. A public ban does not make much sense given that the public is abandoning the practice anyway. 

The Young Don’t Smoke - The smoking rate for 18-24-year-olds declined more than any other age group to 9.8% in 2023, down from 25.7% in 2011. This represents a major shift, given that the 2011 figure was above the national average and the 2023 percentage is below it. This shows that smoking is no longer a popular practice amongst young people, indicating that it will be even less of a problem as future generations come through. Despite its notoriously addictive nature, the future of smoking is one of natural decline so a ban would have little impact.

A public ban does not make much sense given that the public is abandoning the practice anyway

Health is not the Issue - Banning smoking in outdoor areas of pubs reduces the number of safe smoking spaces. The NHS recommends outdoor smoking in every case compared to indoor smoking to limit its negative effects on non-smokers. Removing smoking areas, besides being unnecessary in reducing tobacco use, would remove a common social setting for smokers to enjoy without significantly improving public health. Additionally, the UK has extensive restrictions on smoking in areas that could threaten vulnerable people, raising the question of whether outright public bans, especially in pubs, are necessary.