Landlord fears outdoor smoking ban will 'kill' pubs

Paul Keenan has run the Hairy Dog in Derby for the past 12 years

The landlord of a Derby music venue and bar fears government plans to toughen rules on outdoor smoking will "kill pubs".

Paul Keenan, who runs the Hairy Dog in the city centre, estimates he will lose around 20% of his revenue if the ruling comes in.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has confirmed the government is considering the move to reduce the number of preventable deaths linked to tobacco use.

Mr Keenan said: "Who is really going to police this?".

The details are not set in stone but smoking could be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, outside hospitals and sports grounds.

The prime minister previously said "we have got to take action" to reduce the burden on the NHS.

Mr Keenan said takings are down 30% on last year and a smoking ban would hit takings further.

He added landlords are "scraping to make a living".

"I don't see the point in it - it's going to kill pubs," he said.

Mr Keenan said he had spent tens of thousands improving the outdoor area of the venue

"It's not going to do anything for the NHS.

"It will just stop people coming out who used to come out and they'll just sit indoors and smoke instead."

Mr Keenan believes the government should be focusing on "banning disposal vapes" and added he and his staff pick up dozens of them thrown on the floor after each shift.

The 56-year-old said he used to smoke and has quit, but added smokers should not be penalised.

"There are less people smoking and that's a good thing but that is going down on its own.

"People who are long-term smokers who don't want to give up, will not give up because they're told they can't smoke outside pub - they're just not going to go."

Smoking outside pubs and bars could be banned under tentative proposals set out by the government

Nationally, health professionals have welcomed the proposals.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, said the public expected "not to have to breathe in tobacco smoke in places like children's play areas and seating areas outside pubs, restaurants and cafés".

But she added it was important to ensure there were still outdoor areas for people to "smoke in the open air, rather than inside their homes".

However, those from the hospitality sector are worried the ban will hurt businesses.

Steve Alton, chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, said pubs and bars need "support, investment and a fair and level playing field".

Mr Alton, based in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, added people in the hospitality sector had made "significant adaptations" to their venues since the indoor smoking ban in 2007 and said "any further disruption" would be "incredibly damaging".

Steve Alton, chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, is against the proposals