There is “no plan” to extend the public smoking ban to pub gardens, the Department of Health has told M&C’s sister title the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.
The Government said it also had no intention to consult on the proposals set out in a report by the Royal Society of Public Health.
The society concluded smoking should be illegal in beer gardens, children’s playgrounds, al-fresco dining areas, parks, squares and outside school gates.
It said this would have the effect of “denormalising” and reducing the convenience of smoking.
This morning M&C asked leading operators and commentators for their thoughts on the proposal. Read their responses here.
