A recent study found that 1 in 5 ex-smokers think a ban on smoking in pub beer gardens and outdoor areas would help them quit the habit for good.
The Quitting Smoking for Mental Health study spoke to 1,000 current and ex-smokers from all around the country to find out what measures would be best for smoking cessation.
This was the response they got:
- 26% wanted a âsmoking ban in all public places, including hospitals, parks and bus stops’
- 20% wanted a âban on smoking on pub premises, including pub gardens and outdoor seatingâ
- Â 19% wanted a âworkplace ban on smoking on the premises and cigarette breaksâ
According to smoking cessation charity ASH, the study – which was conducted by Vape Club – discovered that 43.9% of ex-smokers found their mental health had improved since they quit smoking.
It also found that the pandemic has been the driving force behind an âastonishingâ quit rate among young smokers, although some stressed concerns that pubs reopening may mean they relapse.
Stephanie Barnes, an ex-smoker, said: âItâs quite a tricky one Iâd imagine as some outside pub spaces arenât big enough to separate the garden but I think separate areas would be a good idea.
âTry and remember how far youâve come – ie if you quit smoking for three months then what is making you want to start when in a pub? Remember how smoking made you feel, for me it was stomach pains and chesty and remember why youâre so much better without itâ.
ASH are calling for the current âpop upâ pavement licences to be made 100% smokefree, as a way of helping smokers to ‘quit and stay quit’.
They also want to provide family-friendly spaces, as well as preventing any harm caused by second-hand smoke.

Jonathan James, owner of The Boathouse pub, said: âWe see an increase in smoking when people drink alcohol. We are fortunate to have an extensive external space, with tables that are very well spaced and table service for safety with the pandemic.
âWhile we see no need to implement a no smoking policy as it would reduce trade, I can understand urban venues with limited outside access would have an issue.
âI can imagine that a blanket ban would make it easier for an ex-smoker, simply because they no longer have to tell themselves not to smoke. âYou can’t smokeâ is much easier than âyou can but best you don’t smokeâ, especially after a few Mojitos!â
However, an outdoor smoking ban in pub beer gardens is not universally supported.

Andres Siimon on Unsplash
Simon Clark, director of the smokersâ group Forest, said: âThere is absolutely no justification for banning smoking outside pubs and thankfully there is very little support for it.
âIf ex-smokers are so easily tempted to relapse thatâs their problem not the publicanâs.â
He added: âDemands to ban smoking outside are the last thing publicans need as they try to recover from lockdown.
âUltimately itâs a matter for them, not government or anti-smoking campaigners, to choose a policy that best suits their business and attracts the largest number of customers.â