Ipswich pub owner warns against potential ban on smoking

Leaked papers seen by The Sun suggest the government is planning to expand the indoor smoking ban to cover beer gardens, parks or outside football stadiums. 

In addition, the ban could also include small parks, outdoor restaurants and hospitals.

Steven Wells runs The Shamrock, on Ipswich's Tavern Street, and is not pleased with the report. 

On Tuesday it was reported that there may be a potential ban on smoking in beer gardens in the UK. (Image: Google Maps)

He suggests that the government are trying "to control people's lives and tell them how to live and what choices to make".

Mr Wells also raised concerns over how this might lead to further risks as people who want to smoke a cigarette will be forced to do so on the street outside the pub.

Mr Wells, right, believes that the government warns against such a ban. (Image: Tom Cann)

"If they decide that they want to have a cigarette whilst they're having a beer, then that's what they will do," he added. 

"But instead of doing it in the pub gardens they will exit the pubs and stand on the highway or public pavements. 

"It is likely to create a greater health issue for all those people walking past any bar. "

The owner of the Shamrock believes that this may be a step too far. (Image: Google Maps)

The initial smoking ban inside pubs came in 2007, was also received negatively, however, in the long term resulted in a rising number of pub customers.

Mr Wells, who is also a councillor at the Claydon and Whitton Parish Council, says he supports the 2007 ban, as it helped the prevent risk of second-hand smoke indoors, where "smoke has no place to go". 

He said: "To me, this is now a step too far and it's not going to achieve anything other than damage to the hospitality industry and public health."

Adnams hopes for the government to communicate with the hospitality sector before making such a decision. (Image: Google Maps)

Meanwhile, Adnams, a brewery and pub operator across believes that the announcement the government should communicate more with the hospitality sector before such legislation is passed. 

Their spokesperson said: "News of this consideration will doubtless be met with mixed views among our many pub customers, diners, and our tenants and managers."

Speaking on Thursday, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government were "going to take decisions" in relation to smoking.

Speaking in Paris, the prime minister said: “My starting point on this is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That’s a preventable death.

“It’s a huge burden on the NHS, and, of course, it’s a burden on the taxpayer. So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space.

“More details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths, and we’ve got to take the action to reduce the burden on the NHS and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”