SITTING in a beer garden with a pint – and, for some, a cigarette or a vape – is a central part of visiting the pub.
It begs the question, why is the Government considering plans to extend the indoor smoking ban to outside spaces, such as in or near pub grounds and football stadiums?
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I think we all recognise the Government’s ambition to drive down the number of people that smoke, but there is a huge question mark over whether this is the way to do that.
What there is no doubt about is the economic impact this Tobacco and Vapes Bill will have on pubs and the wider hospitality sector, which is already shouldering more than its fair share of financial pain.
This is about choice
Let’s look back to 2007, when the indoor smoking ban came into effect.
That was a sea-change in how pubs operated and it had a huge impact.
Some businesses had their whole operating model thrown into the air and never really recovered.
There were significant business closures, with thousands calling last orders, and I fear we will see something similar if this outdoor ban goes ahead.
Not only would pubs and nightclubs be affected, as happened in 2007.
It would also hit restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels which have all spent significant sums of money doing up their outdoor spaces so that smokers and non-smokers alike can enjoy themselves in comfort.
Fundamentally, this is about choice.
People should have the choice about where outside they want to smoke or vape, and businesses should have the choice about how they run their outdoor spaces.
This is the case for many other things — such as whether a pub shows live sport, holds a pub quiz, plays music or serves food.
They make these decisions based on informed knowledge of their customers and their venues, so whether they allow smoking outside should also be their call.
This shouldn’t become a binary smoker vs non-smoker debate.
I don’t smoke, but I like to be able to socialise outside hospitality venues with friends that do.
All of a sudden, our options become very limited.
That diminishes the hospitality experience, which Britain is famous for.
Our pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants are the places friends and family go to when they want to get together or celebrate a special occasion.
That’s not good for us as a society nor for the hospitality sector, which generates £140billion in revenue each year
Kate Nicholls
All of a sudden, if this ban goes ahead, an added barrier will be put in place.
Do we really want to see people choosing to smoke at home instead?
I fear this ban would simply change the location where people smoke, not change their habit for good.
That’s not good for us as a society nor for the hospitality sector, which generates £140billion in revenue each year and employs 3.5million people.
Hospitality is an economic powerhouse, and that needs to be brought into the debate.
These measures would limit our potential and go against the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that encapsulates the sector.
Barrier to growth
With the right economic conditions, we can grow by six per cent a year and play a huge part in delivering the Government’s growth ambitions.
But the financial challenges facing pubs are well understood and remain a barrier to that growth potential.
The Government talked a good game during the election campaign about supporting hospitality and High Street businesses, and we need to see the Chancellor deliver on those warm words.
These plans to ban smoking in outdoor spaces are certainly not supportive.
I urge the Government to urgently reconsider and talk to bodies including UKHospitality and our members.
Then we can work together to ensure our pubs and other venues can thrive and be places welcome to everyone, regardless of whether they smoke or not.
The pub landlords’ verdict
LANDLADY Abbie Marshall’s pub has a huge beer garden covering nearly half an acre.
The walled area outside the Buck Inn at Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorks, seats up to 150 drinkers and many of them are smokers.
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Abbie, 47, said: “How the hell am I going to police such a large area to make sure my customers aren’t smoking?”
Most of the regulars at the Buck Inn are in their late 30s or older, and many like a cigarette with their pint.
The pub has a smoking kiosk so that smokers can go out even during the worst winter weather.
Abbie, who employs up to 17 staff at the pub, says: “We would have to hire extra people to monitor the smokers and make sure they don’t light up outside.
“It’s a cost that pubs can’t afford.
“People will just smoke on the streets.”
Abbie argues that many landlords are only just keeping their businesses alive.
Currently pubs pay 25 per cent of their business rates, but the charge is due to go back up to 100 per cent from April.
Abbie says: “A lot of publicans don’t have the cash flow to pay a 75 per cent jump in business rates – and that is before we take into account the effects of a new smoking ban.”
MICHAEL BANN, 42, owner of the Four Alls pub in Higham, near Burnley, Lancs, said: “It’s as though the Government don’t want pubs to thrive and do well.
“This is just another obstacle we have to deal with.
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“I agree with a smoking ban in playgrounds but not in beer gardens.
“Pubs are already struggling.
“We only have a small beer garden at the front of my pub so, hopefully, it won’t affect us too much.
“It’s a strange one because people already go outside to smoke, so do they have to be completely away from the tables or stand at the far end of the car park, or will they have to be completely off the premises?
“Will people wanting to smoke have to stand on the pavement?
“I just don’t know how it is going to be policed.
“It is just something else we will have to deal with.”
Michael added: “What I am more concerned about is if the Government follows Scotland and lowers the drink-drive limit, where you can’t even have a pint.
“A lot of people come in for a pint after work before going home and that would all stop.
“I’m just waiting for the next tax rise, which will shut even more pubs down.”
