Smoking outside pubs, cafes and restaurants could be banned under new Welsh Government proposals
The Welsh Government has announced plans to ban smoking outdoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Health Minister Vaughan Gething made the commitment to "progress work" on the ban in the next Senedd term.
Anti-smoking charity Ash Wales has welcomed the plans and said a ban would help protect people from second-hand smoke and de-normalise the unhealthy habit.
Currently in Wales, 17 per cent of adults smoke - which is an estimated 440,000 adults according to government statistics.
In a written statement, Mr Gething said he intended to ban smoking outdoors in places like restaurants as well as city and town centres.
The statement outlined how this ban would be part of new legislation which will replace the Smoke-free Premises etc. (Wales) Regulations 2007.
The new regulations also plan to "extend the smoking ban to outdoor areas of hospital grounds, school grounds, and local authority playgrounds."
Suzanne Cass, CEO of ASH Wales, said: "As lockdown restrictions are lifted and customers, including families with young children, return to the outdoor areas of pubs, cafes and restaurants, it is more important than ever to ensure that staff and customers are protected from breathing in second-hand smoke which we know carries significant health risks."
Research by ASH Wales has shown public support for tougher measures to curb smoking. with 63 per cent of adults supporting a smoking ban in the outdoor seating areas of restaurants and cafes. More than half also support a ban on smoking in town centres.
The potential ban is seen as particularly important now because of the link between smoking and suffering more severe coronavirus symptoms.
Data from the COVID Symptom Study app, which involves more than 3 million people from the UK, Sweden and the US, found that smokers were more than twice as likely as non-smokers to end up in hospital with severe symptoms of Covid-19.
Smokers are more at risk from coronavirus because they have weakened lung defences. Many may have existing lung and heart conditions caused by smoking which also increases their risk from the virus.
Keir Lewis, professor of respiratory medicine at Swansea University, said we know inhaling second-hand smoke can make people more likely to suffer from respiratory problems. This risk is increased the more you are exposed to the fumes.
He said: "This risk is especially highest for those working in the hospitality industry who are exposed to second-hand smoke on a daily basis because the effects are cumulative, even if they are outside.
"Theoretically there is also an increased risk of smokers passing on Covid-19 because they cough more often and when people cough, we know the droplets spread further than two metres. There is also the risk that those exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to cough and spread any of their droplets further.
"During these uncertain times, anything we can do in terms of reducing discomfort and risk to others and ourselves, without any harm to others - is a really good thing."
However the plans have not been welcomed by everyone. Forest, a group which defends the rights of smokers, described the proposal as "gross opportunism."
Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: "This is a matter for individual businesses, not government or local authorities.
"In the wake of lockdown, pubs, restaurants and cafes already face huge challenges. This is the worst possible time to add to their burden by imposing further regulations that could discourage a lot of smokers from returning."
Mr Clark added: "The smoking ban had a huge impact on the pub sector and was a significant factor in thousands of pubs closing after it was introduced in 2007.
"Although many smokers reluctantly adapted to the ban, banning smoking outside could be the final straw.
"The hospitality industry needs to issue a firm response and reject additional government interference on an issue that should be a matter for individual proprietors."