Beer garden fury! Starmer warned his smoking ban 'could trigger arguments and violence'

LABOUR’S tough crackdown on outdoor smoking could trigger violent clashes outside pubs, landlords warned last night.

They fear the authoritarian ban will turn beer gardens and terraces into flashpoints if customers object to those breaking proposed new laws.

Bar staff will also be thrust into the firing line, they say, to quell angry exchanges outside licensed premises.

MPs predict the “crazy” restriction on lighting up could even threaten public safety as crowded areas outside football stadiums and nightclubs become potential tinderboxes.

Tory Mike Wood, former chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer group, said: “It is another source of conflict between customers and staff. It’s that extra flashpoint. The whole thing is badly thought through.”

Tony Sophoclides, of UKHospitality, which represents 100,000 venues nationwide, said: “There needs to be due consideration and scrutiny and consultation about how exactly this is enforced.

“That has to include making sure staff are safe and not put into danger. At a time when we want to attract people into these roles we have to make sure they are not forbidding or ominous for any applicants.”

Labour-controlled Newcastle City Council has already banned smoking in outdoor areas of all new bars, restaurants and pubs, with 100 premises now included.

But former Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden declared: “The idea of telling people they can’t smoke in a beer garden and forcing them out on to the street seems crazy to me.

“The Government is going to put landlords and bar staff in the firing line of customers who, understandably, think the law banning smoking outside pubs is absurd.”

Sir Keir Starmer faced a mounting backlash after he confirmed plans to extend the smoking ban to beer gardens, sports grounds and other outdoor venues.

The Prime Minister said he was making the decision to reduce the burden on the NHS caused by smoking-related illnesses, which cost 80,000 lives a year.

But alarmed publicans warned the draconian plan would deal a hammer blow to struggling businesses – and could shut one in eight pubs,. And industry experts said it could encourage street violence and place bar staff in danger if they ask boozed-up customers to stub out their cigarettes.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “When laws have total disrespect for people then they are ignored. It could lead to a few arguments, there’s no question about it. It’s a burden on staff.”

He added: “To survive, I think pubs will turn a blind eye. It’s one of those laws that is so bad, it won’t be enforced.”

A leading lawyer warned smokers will congregate outside pub entrances, already a common hot spot for violence.

Suraj Desor, a solicitor at Poppleston Allen who specialises in alcohol and entertainment licensing, said: “Such a ban could also result in crowds congregating at the last moment before entering pubs or football stadiums for one last cigarette, which may lead to issues of nuisance or public safety.

“It’s likely to be quite challenging to police. Premises will have to retrain staff and you may have a situation where staff are monitoring outside areas in addition to their existing obligations.”

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, warned the policy would be “detrimental to both the industry and community safety”.

He added: “After investing millions in outdoor spaces, businesses are now confronted with the possibility of the burden of asking staff to intervene or regulate, implementing costly systems and additional training.”

Lyle Bignon, who represents bars and restaurants as Birmingham’s Night Time Economy Ambassador, said: “The consensus from operators, landlords and customers is it’s effectively unenforceable.”

The Department for Health has admitted planned laws ensuring only people born before 2009 are ever allowed to buy tobacco could lead to an increase in violence against shop staff.

An impact assessment said: “There is a risk it will increase the number of customers that are abusive and aggressive towards retail workers.”

And a paper published by the Health and Safety Executive warned: “In pubs/clubs, entrances can be ‘hot spots’ for violence.”

It added: “People working in pubs and clubs experience frequent verbal abuse, physical assaults, including the use of weapons, racial discrimination.” Pubs are already under enormous financial strain and last year saw the highest level of closures – 769 – in a decade, according to research by accountancy firm Price Bailey.

Industry insiders say they are already operating on extremely slim profit margins due to inflation, and they fear losing customers if the ban goes ahead.

Mr Bignon said: “Premises have already invested a lot of money on outdoor areas, partly due to restrictions during Covid.

“Even a five per cent to eight per cent drop in takings can send a business under. It would mean closures and job losses.”

The British Beer and Pub Association is calling on the Government to not go ahead with the proposal.

Pub managers also fear Labour plans to impose minimum pricing for alcohol – a move that could drive away even more customers – after a senior government figure floated the idea at an industry event shortly before July’s General Election. But a government spokesman has insisted there were no plans to introduce the measure.