Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Wednesday confirmed that the Government was considering a ban on smoking in most outdoor spaces, including pub gardens.
Speaking to Sky News, the Cabinet minister called for a “national debate” on the policy which he claimed would tackle the “scourge of second hand smoke and passive smoke”.
The potential ban has been welcomed by health experts, who argue that a long-term change in public behaviour could significantly reduce pressure on the NHS.
The laws would see smoking banned in pub gardens, restaurant terraces, near sports stadiums, pavements near universities and hospitals, and shisha bars.
But the policy has been criticised by the hospitality industry and Conservative politicians, who claim it will force many pubs to close and place unfair restrictions on personal liberties.
Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and early death, according to Cancer Research UK, and is linked to at least 16 different types of cancer.
The Standard’s analysis of data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that smoking rates in London have fallen significantly compared with a decade ago.
The figures suggest that existing restrictions on tobacco and the explosion in popularity of vaping have already dented the popularity of cigarettes, which appear to be in long-term decline.
Tony Blair’s Government banned indoor smoking in 2007, while a ban on the display of tobacco products in large shops was introduced by David Cameron in 2012.
According to the ONS data, the number of people aged 18 and over who smoke in London fell by 6.5 per cent from 2012 to 2022.
The figures also challenge the commonly held view that most smokers are older. In fact, the data shows that the rate of smoking is highest among millennial Londoners, with 13.2 per cent classed as smokers.
This is almost twice the rate found in those aged over 65, and 3 per cent higher than those aged 18-24.
Smoking rates also vary significantly by borough.
Hounslow has the highest rate of smoking in the capital, with 16.3 per cent of adults who smoke. This is followed by Ealing (15.9 per cent) and Havering (15.9 per cent).
More affluent boroughs have a lower rate of smoking, with just 6.2 per cent of adults in Kingston upon Thames and 6.4 per cent in Richmond classed as smokers.
Labour’s election-winning 2024 manifesto pledged preventative public health measures, and policy makers said their quest for “longer, healthier lives… starts with smoking”.
Polls suggest that the public supports the ban.
Earlier this month, YouGov asked 3,715 adults in the UK about a pub gardens and outdoor restaurants smoking ban and pollsters found 58 per cent of British adults would either tend to support or strongly support those measures.
Just over a third (35 per cent) said they tended to oppose or strongly opposed the idea.
Dr Layla McCay from the NHS Confederation, which speaks on behalf of NHS organisations, has said the ban would reduce “huge problems” caused by smoking.
"We are heartened to see that progress is being made," she told the BBC.
But Conservative shadow health secretary Victoria Atkins criticised the ban, saying it would “put our hospitality sector at risk”.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade group UK Hospitality, said a ban would “need to be thought through very carefully before we damage businesses and economic growth and jobs”.
But Mr Streeting on Wednesday insisted that he would make changes “with people” and not “to people” when asked about nanny state concerns, saying he is not the “fun police”.
