Colchester residents react to proposed outdoor smoking ban

It was confirmed yesterday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer that ministers are looking to toughen up on outdoor smoking in effort to reduce preventable deaths linked to tobacco use.

If it goes ahead, this could mean that smoking beer gardens, outdoor restaurants and other areas such as small parks would be not allowed.

Many residents have now taken to Facebook to share their thoughts on the possible ban, some for, some against it.

City centre - Colchester High Street (Image: Newsquest)

Commenter Julie Bond has simply branded the ban as a “dictatorship”.

But Colchester resident Joe Miceli can see both sides of the ban.

He said: “It’s difficult because it’s taking away some people’s freedoms but smoking is also very harmful and ruins people’s lives in all sorts of ways.

“But if I advocate for people’s freedom to smoke I feel like I am enabling people to ruin their lives.”

Smoker - Reform UK leader Nigel Farage smoking outside the Westminster Arms pub in Westminster, London. Picture date: Thursday August 29, 2024 (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Nicci Whelan doesn’t smoke but she thinks it is a “ridiculous” ban and would be “awful” for people who do.

In July 2007, it became illegal across the country to smoke in any pub, restaurant, nightclub and most workplaces and work vehicles.

According to the NHS England, smoking-related hospital admissions in the county increased by nearly five per cent from 2022 to 2023 when compared to the previous year.

There were an estimated 408,700 hospital admissions due to smoking, an increase from 389,800 between 2021 to 2022.

Prime Minister - Keir Starmer (Image: Hannah McKay/PA Wire)

Carole Summer said: “Trying to save the NHS money with this ridiculous idea, how about we look at the bigger picture.

“Say a person who has been drinking alcohol in a pub sparks up a cigarette in the beer garden, gets confronted by someone for doing so and an argument starts.

“It all kicks off, people get hurt and maybe have to go to the hospital for treatment, that would cost the NHS money.”

Norman Noblin said: “Being an ex-smoker, the decision to try and stop people from smoking outside pubs will be another knife in the heart of the hospitality trade.

Addictive - a cigarette (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

“The poor old working person will be stuffed again, if you want to get more money for the NHS, abolish the house of lords.”

Dave Johns said: "The pubs will be completely gone if this happens."