Starmer Says Outdoor Smoking Ban is Being Considered

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the government will “take decisions” on a potential outdoor smoking ban forming part of a new bill aimed at eventually eradicating the habit and alleviating pressure on the NHS. Business leaders have warned that proposals to ban outdoor smoking in beer gardens and outside stadiums would be another “nail in the coffin” for pubs and bars, already hit hard by the lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis. ‘A Huge Burden’ Starmer told reporters in Paris: “My starting point on this is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking....