Vaping could soon be banned outside schools and hospitals – after beer garden smoking crackdown sparked outrage
VAPING outside schools and hospitals could soon be banned – just weeks after plans for smoking bans in pub gardens sparked outrage.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is said to be discussing the move in an effort to decrease the number of children taking up the habit.
The report by the Times also suggests that Sir Chris Witty, the chief medical officer for England, is in favour of the ban – and has argued it should be extended to pub gardens as well as schools and hospitals.
However, it is believed that ministers are unlikely to support this addition, following widespread backlash over plans to ban cigarettes in pub gardens in August.
Officials reportedly do not wish to treat vaping as harshly as smoking as it is widely accepted to be the safer option.
Unlike cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and the NHS recommends that smokers switch to them to combat addiction.
However, vaping has skyrocketed in popularity over recent years – with many non-smokers taking up the habit.
A study this week found that a million people who had never smoked were now habitually vaping, while one in seven non-smokers aged 18 to 24 used e-cigarettes.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is set to be presented in Parliament in the coming weeks, which will lay out further restrictions – including Rishi Sunak’s proposed ban on children currently under 14 from ever being able to legally cigarettes.
A vape tax is also being discussed by the Treasury, with ministers reportedly hesitant about raising prices during a cost of living crisis.
Sir Chris has previously made his feelings known on vaping, calling the marketing of e-cigarettes to children “utterly unacceptable” and describing the behaviour of e-cigarette companies as “shameful”.
He has also urged the public that vaping is “not risk free”, saying: “If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape”.
The proposed ban comes after similar plans for a smoking crackdown sparked outrage across the hospitality industry.
Pub bosses warned the plans – which included banning cigarettes in beer gardens – would have “a devastating impact on pubs already struggling with soaring energy prices and the cost of business.”
Wes Streeting has assured the public that a “national conversation” will take place before any final decisions are made.
Will smoking be banned in pub gardens?
In August, leaked government documents revealed plans to ban smoking in beer gardens as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Secret Whitehall papers seen by The Sun showed ministers plotting to drastically extend the indoor smoking to beer gardens and outside football stadiums.
The plans also extended to outdoor restaurants, open-air spaces at clubs, and spaces outside universities, hospitals, sports grounds, kids’ play areas and small parks.
Hitting back at the bill, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “It’ll be the end of pubs.”
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said: “Our country faces huge challenges. Why is Starmer focusing on this nonsense?”
Following the outrage, a public consultation was launched.
Ministers now appear to be backing away from the proposed ban, saying they will only implement it if voters want it – with Wes Streeting promising a “genuine national conversation”.