REACTIVE STATEMENT FROM HU ON GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INTRODUCE TOUGHER RULES ON OUTDOOR SMOKING

30 August 2024

Hospitality Ulster warns that tougher outdoor smoking rules could harm the hospitality sector, urging the government to consider the economic impact and consult with affected parties.

Reacting to the news on Government plans to introduce tougher rules on outdoor smoking, Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster said: 

“Hospitality Ulster is concerned to hear the Prime Minister would be in favour of tougher rules on outdoor smoking, which could bring serious economic harm to hospitality venues. You only have to look back to the significant pub closures we saw after the indoor smoking ban.

"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.

"We already have really strict rules about where you can smoke outside our premises and most smokers are already considerate in using designated outdoor spaces, many of which businesses had to invest in when the smoking ban was brought in.

"It needs to be assessed whether such a ban would achieve its aims of meaningfully reducing smoking or simply relocate smoking elsewhere, such as in the home.

"I hope that the UK Government will see reason on this proposal and that the Northern Ireland Executive would not bring forward any change that would create further challenges for the sector here.

"The Government must embark on a full and detailed conversation with affected parties on the impact of such a ban before any legislation is laid. Most people already know that smoking is bad for your health and it is already declining in popularity."