Racecourses could be dealt a financial hammer blow if a “nanny state” outdoor smoking ban proposed by the Government becomes law.
According to leaked Whitehall papers, ministers are looking at extending the indoor smoking ban to pub beer gardens, restaurant terraces, university and hospital campuses, sports grounds, children’s play areas and small parks.
But race tracks may be targeted leaving punters facing a day without lighting up, while other spectators stay away altogether, according to the Racing Post and The Sun.
Horse racing venues have already seen total attendances fall from six million in 2016 to 4.8million last year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said decisions on smoking were taken in an effort to tackle preventable deaths and ease pressures on the NHS.
Tory shadow sports minister Louie French hit out: “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.”
Pat Masterson, managing director at Newton Abbot course, told the Racing Post: “I would imagine a smoking ban outside would give us problems. Why would a government seek to do this? It’s a mad, idiotic decision.”
Thirsk racecourse boss James Sanderson said: “I’ve been running Thirsk for 13 years and am very involved with Catterick as well. I cannot remember a single instance during where a member of the public has complained about smoking. The public don’t need dictating to by bureaucrats.”
Kate Nicholls, boss of the UKHospitality group, added: “A ban on smoking in outdoor spaces carries the prospect of serious economic harm.
“You only have to recall the pub closures we saw after the indoor ban to see the potential impact.”
In 2007, under the last Labour government, smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces was made illegal across the UK.
According to health charity Action on Smoking and Health, 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 £8.4 million in the first 12 months alone.
It also saw a 12.3 per cent reduction in hospital admissions for childhood asthma, equivalent to 6,803 fewer admissions over three years.
Former Tory PM Rishi Sunak had announced plans to crack down on smoking with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill last year.
The plans had gathered wide cross-party support, but were shelved when the general election was called earlier in the summer.
A YouGov poll suggested that 58 per cent of British adults support banning smoking in pub gardens and outside restaurants.
The Department for Health and Social Care said: “We do not comment on leaks”, adding: “Smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS, and costs taxpayers billions. We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoking.
“We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.”
