Now outdoor smoking ban could extend to racecourses in Keir Starmer crackdown that horse race bosses are calling ‘mad and idiotic’

The outdoor smoking ban could now extend to racecourses under Keir Starmer’s crackdown – as bosses blast the move as ‘mad and idiotic’. The Prime Minister last week confirmed he is considering on outdoor smoking – amid claims it could see Brits barred from lighting up in beer gardens or outside stadiums. And now it is said racetracks could also be at risk of being clobbered by the new rules – with some fearing it could drive punters away from the events. They believe the ‘nanny state’ ban could kill off the sport, which is already seeing crowds dwindling, with total attendance falling by more than a 20 per cent since 2016. Pat Masterson, the managing director of Newton Abbot race course, slammed the idea as he told Racing Post: ‘I would imagine a smoking ban outside would give us a problem. Some people like to smoke and why should they be stopped from doing so in an outside environment? ‘We’ve got lots of space at Newton Abbot and we’ve never had any problems or complaints about people smoking outside. ‘Why would a government seek to do this? It’s a mad, idiotic decision.’ The news of a smoking ban sparked panic in the hospitality sector when it was announced, with nightclub smoking areas, restaurant terraces and even shisha bars potentially getting their right to light up axed. Pavements by universities and hospitals are also expected to be smoke-free zones, according to secret Whitehall papers seen by The Sun. Brits will still be allowed to smoke in their own homes and large open spaces, like streets and parks. But other locations are said to be grey areas and still under discussion – including beaches and enclosed, popular parks. The report also mentions vape-free zones, although it is unclear whether the ban could also include e-cigarettes. Thirsk chief executive James Sanderson was also enraged by the decision, adding: ‘It very much sounds like a nanny state. The public don’t need dictating to by bureaucrats.’ Shadow Sports Minister Louie French further blasted the move, telling The Sun: ‘It is unclear how Labour’s nanny state proposals would work in practice, but there is a clear risk that further impositions on the likes of horse racing could damage the sport and put off racegoers. ‘The Government should instead focus on supporting the industry and sports grounds across the UK.’ A recent impact assessment has even found that banning smoking outdoors could cost jobs and force even more pubs to close, the tabloid reports. It could spell the end of the shisha bar industry in the UK, which held more than 500 national locations in 2022. And the policy could leave devastation in its wake for the hospitality industry – with a 2020 government release explicitly warning that banning cigarettes in pub gardens could ‘lead to significant closures and job losses’. Asked about the proposals, Sir Keir said: ‘My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. ‘That is a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it is a burden on the taxpayer. ‘So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space, more details will be revealed. ‘But this is a preventable series of deaths and we’ve got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer.’ Hospitality bosses admitted having major concerns over the outdoor smoking ban -with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage saying: ‘It will be the end of pubs.’ A snap MailOnline poll showed three quarters of people disagree with the ban, while Britain’s beleaguered hospitality sector declared: ‘The last thing we need is further barriers.’ Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industry Association, told MailOnline that Mr Starmer’s plot to ban outdoor smoking has ‘understandably caused concern across the sector’. He added: ‘Although smoking rates have seen a significant decline, many have switched to vaping – a trend that, according to these leaks, may also fall under new regulatory scrutiny. ‘This raises the critical question: Are we on the brink of becoming a nanny state? What is next? While these measures may rightly be driven by public health considerations, they risk dividing opinion and imposing yet another regulatory burden on businesses already facing considerable challenges. ‘At a time when our industry desperately needs the freedom to trade, the last thing we need is further barriers.’ Mr Kill continued: ‘As we consider the implications of these potential restrictions, we must question whether such an approach is truly in the public interest, or whether it risks over-regulation at the cost of personal freedom and business viability.’ In 2007, under the last Labour government, smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces was made illegal across the UK. According to health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), in the year following the introduction of smoke-free laws, there was a 2.4 per cent reduction in hospital admissions for heart attacks in England, saving the NHS £8.4million in the first year alone. The first year after the introduction of the indoor smoking ban also saw a 12.3 per cent reduction in hospital admissions for childhood asthma, equivalent to 6,803 fewer admissions over three years. Former prime minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to crack down on smoking through his flagship Tobacco and Vapes Bill last year. The Bill – dubbed the ‘greatest piece of public health legislation in a generation’ – had earned wide cross-party support and was progressing through Parliament when the general election was called. Charities and health experts were dismayed when the Bill was shelved as a result. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: ‘The priority is to get the Bill back in Parliament and put on the statute book, to end smoking for the next generation and curb youth vaping. ‘ASH would support the inclusion of powers to extend smoke-free laws outdoors, subject to consultation. ‘However, it’s also important to ensure that there are still outdoor areas where people who smoke can smoke in the open air, rather than inside their homes.’ Labour pledged to introduce their own Tobacco and Vapes Bill at last month’s King’s Speech to ‘progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes’. This will ban smoking for those born after 2008 and prevent the availability of vapes for children, but there was no mention of a ban on smoking in outdoor areas for those of legal age. It is reported ministers are now considering extending the legislation to include tougher restrictions favoured by public health -experts. The previous Conservative government set an objective for England to be smokefree by 2030.