New rules will see no smoking rules extended to outside areas
The government has announced that pubs, restaurants and cafes must offer customers non-smoking areas outside as part of the lockdown-easing measures.
Smoking inside venues has been banned in England since July 2007, but there are currently no controls on outdoor smoking.
Since there are now more non-smoking customers in beer gardens and at outside restaurant tables because of the introduction of social distancing, businesses in England will have to offer separate outside seating for smokers and non-smokers.
Some campaigners called for a ban on smoking anywhere on the premises, including outdoors spaces, but ministers have rejected this.
Ministers have now tabled an amendment to the new Business and Planning Bill requiring businesses to make “reasonable provision” for non-smoking seating.
The government has said that designated areas will have no-smoking signs, no ashtrays and a minimum two-metre distance between non-smoking and smoking areas “wherever possible”.
Some councils across the UK have already closed roads and widened pavements, in order to allow more space for those eating and drinking outside pubs, cafes and restaurants.
However, a proposed amendment by the House of Lords would make all pavement licences issued by councils conditional on the outside seating areas being smoke-free.
Ministers have said that pubs, restaurants and bars will be allowed to choose to create their own no-smoking areas outside.
The new rules are aimed at enabling people to enjoy eating or drinking outdoors as pubs, restaurants and bars reopen after the coronavirus pandemic.
The Business and Planning Bill is intended to assist the hospitality by making it easier for businesses to set up temporary outdoor areas for eating and drinking.
Chris Pincher MP, the planning minister, said: “We are supporting our pubs, cafes and restaurants to safely reopen and securing jobs by making it quicker, easier and cheaper to set up outdoor seating and stalls to serve food and drink, whilst protecting public health against the transmission of Covid.
“These changes will allow everyone to enjoy outdoor eating and drinking whether they smoke or not, with appropriate provisions made for non-smokers and smokers.”