Majority of Britons back smoking ban in pub gardens, new poll shows

Almost two‑thirds of people in Britain would support a ban on smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor hospitality areas, according to new polling that suggests strong public appetite for tougher smoke‑free measures.

The YouGov survey of 13,259 adults, carried out for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), found 62% back extending smoke‑free laws to pub gardens, while 93% support banning smoking in children’s play areas. A further 78% favour smoke‑free bus stops, and 68% support restrictions on university and college campuses.

ASH said the findings show clear public backing for “common‑sense” steps to protect people from second‑hand smoke and to help deliver a smoke‑free generation.

Hazel Cheeseman, ASH’s chief executive, said millions of people “are still exposed to harmful second-hand smoke in outdoor settings”, adding that ministers now have “a strong mandate to go further and faster”.

The polling comes after the UK became the first country in Europe to legislate for a smoke‑free generation, with the Tobacco and Vapes Act receiving royal assent last month. The law will prevent anyone aged 17 or under from ever legally buying cigarettes.

A government consultation on extending smoke‑free and vape‑free zones — including playgrounds, hospital grounds and areas outside schools — closed on 8 May. Ministers are now reviewing responses.

Government modelling suggests the new legislation could reduce the number of smokers aged 14 and over from 5.5 million in 2023 to around 701,000 by 2056, preventing an estimated 154,800 deaths in England by 2100.

ASH is also urging ministers to develop a strategy to reduce smoking in homes, particularly around children, and to ensure smoking cessation services can continue to use vaping products as a quitting aid through a targeted exemption.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Act represents “a historic step towards Britain’s first smoke‑free generation”, adding that proposals for new smoke‑free and vape‑free settings aim to “strike the right balance between protecting the most vulnerable and limiting any potential negative impacts on businesses.”