Forest slams outdoor smoking bans

Further to my previous post, here's an edited version of the press release that accompanied Forest's response to the Brighton consolation.

BRIGHTON – Campaigners have slammed proposals to extend the smoking ban to outdoor areas including beaches, parks and historic squares.

Responding to the Brighton and Hove Council consultation on smoke free areas, the smokers' group Forest said it was strongly opposed to prohibiting smoking outside.

There is no evidence, said the group, that smoking outside is a health risk to anyone other than the smoker and the inconvenience to non-smokers is minimal.

'Despite this some campaigners are determined to ban smoking in the open air. Why? What possible benefit will it have for non-smokers apart from encouraging a handful of zealous anti-smokers to feel even more smug and sanctimonious than they already do?'

The indoor smoking ban, the group added, had put many pubs out of business.

'Imagine the impact if pubs, clubs and bars (and even cafes and restaurants) were now denied the opportunity to offer their customers a smoking area outside. At a time when many small businesses are just recovering from a long-term recession, this is exactly the type of unnecessary regulation they don’t need.'

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said:

"Smokers don’t need to be told how to behave around other people. The overwhelming majority of smokers know it can be annoying to some non-smokers if they smoke in their immediate presence. Usually they’ll step a few feet away where they’re no trouble to anyone, not even the most ardent anti-smoker.

"Each and every day we make decisions about our behaviour. Smoking is generally a matter of civility. Most people are civil to one another and they don’t need legislation or even ‘voluntary bans’ dictating to the nth degree how they behave in public spaces."

Full press release here.

Click here for the full consultation response.