The proposed UK ban on smoking in outdoor public places is not set to include vapes, it has been revealed.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is said to be considering a ban on smoking in pub gardens and other outside spaces to reduce the cost to public health and the NHS.
The ban would extend to small parks, as well as areas outside of nightclubs, hospitals and sports venues.
The proposals would be added to the government’s controversial Tobacco and Vapes Bill, first introduced by Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government to gradually phase out smoking.
It had been expected that vaping would be included alongside smoking in the possible outdoor ban, after Commons Leader Lucy Powell vowed to tackle “the scourge of vaping.”
However, it is now understood that vapes will not - at least initially - come under the outdoor smoking ban. There is not currently a law against vaping inside enclosed spaces in the same way there is for cigarettes, although many venues choose to prohibit it.
Most of the focus of the vape element of the new bill is understood to be reducing their appeal to children. There is a chance that the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, if passed, could see vapes treated more like cigarettes are now. Ministers are said to be looking at banning vaping in all indoor public places.
The draft bill, proposed before the general election led to it being shelved, already includes a ban on disposable vapes as well as flavours deemed to be targeted at children and young people. It also suggests tighter restrictions on the sale, marketing and advertising of vapes.
Banning smoking outside would see people caught smoking in public areas such as beer gardens, outside nightclubs and football games committing an offence.
If done in the same way as the indoor smoking ban of 2007, people caught out could be fined £150 in the form of a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Meanwhile, businesses found to be in breach of the law could face fines of up to £2500 from the courts. This could include not putting up suitable signage around the premises.
Last week, hospitality industry leaders hit out at the proposed plans, saying they could ring the death knell for many in the already struggling sector. Some estimates suggest one in eight pubs could close as a result.
They warned that banning vaping alongside this would have an even worse impact.
