Lots to report this month following an extremely busy few weeks. 

First there was the story that Oxfordshire County Council wants to make the county 'smoke free' by 2025, five years ahead of the Government's target of a 'smoke free England' by 2030. 

Then there were calls to ban smoking in beer gardens and other seating areas outside pubs in Wales, and raise the age of sale of tobacco in the UK from 18 to 21.

A Conservative peer then tabled a draft Bill to impose written warnings on individual cigarettes, and last but not least a council in Norfolk joined a long list of local authorities waging war on staff who smoke.

Forest has been vocal in our opposition to all these measures. To find out more, read on ...

Oxfordshire County Council's reported proposal to ban smoking in outdoor hospitality seating areas as part of a plan for the county to go 'smoke free' by 2025 attracted numerous headlines when the story broke nationally on June 1.

Forest's condemnation of the idea was reported by many national and local newspapers including the Oxford Mail, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Mirror, Guardian, Express, The Sun, Daily Star, Metro and many more.

Director Simon Clark also appeared on LBC, Talk Radio, BBC Radio Oxford, BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester, BBC CWR, BBC Radio Berkshire and ITV Meridian. The story also went international and he was invited to appear on Euronews with Derek Yach (above), president of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World.

Forest wasn't alone in criticising the idea of a ban on smoking in beer gardens and other outdoor seating areas. The hospitality industry was quick to oppose it too and there was condemnation from columnists such as Tony Parsons (The Sun) and Janet Street-Porter (Mail Online) who are more often than not anti-smoking. Also fuming was occasional smoker Stephen Glover (Daily Mail).

More important perhaps a 'Government source' was reported by The Sun to have said the Government WON’T ban outdoor smoking across Britain. Given similar Government statements last year this was not really a surprise but it was welcome to hear nonetheless.

We also responded to a similar story in Sheffield: Smokers hit out at 'petty and harmful' bid to ban lighting up outsides pubs and cafes (Yorkshire Live).

Forest leads opposition to outdoor smoking ban in Wales

Following on from the Oxfordshire story, taxpayer-funded ASH Wales, which is funded almost exclusively by the Welsh Government, called for smoking to be banned in beer gardens in Wales. 

The Welsh Government has already expressed an intention to extend the smoking ban to town and city centres, including seating areas outside cafes and restaurants, and now anti-smoking campaigners are targeting beer gardens as well.

Forest led opposition to the idea – see ITV News, BBC News, Metro, Wales Online, Daily Post, Wrexham Leader – but again we were not alone. 

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, the UK's leading hospitality association, spoke out against it on ITV News.

The Welsh Conservatives also rejected the idea. In a statement Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing James Evans MS, said:

"The hospitality industry has been hit hard over the last 15 months and discouraging people from going to pubs and restaurants during the summer months by banning smoking is not what the industry needs.

"Where possible, outdoor areas should be split between smokers and non-smokers to ensure that everyone is able enjoy themselves.

"But the Welsh Government should be focused on supporting people to quit smoking or moving on to reduce risk products rather than continuing to punish and demonise them."

Breckland Council in Norfolk may be familiar to those of you with long memories. In 2010 it was reported that the council planned to force smokers to clock off when they went outside for a cigarette.

Forest's reaction was widely reported and we were invited to respond again last month when BBC Radio Norfolk broke the news that the council now planned to ban smoking and vaping (the latter subject to review) on the site of the council's HQ in Dereham. 

As well as giving an interview to the BBC, our comments were also reported by the local Eastern Daily Press: Campaign group slams smoking ban at council headquarters.

The Council has since written directly to Forest, answering one or two questions we put to them. You can read their response here.

Either way it's further evidence of what we reported last year following a Freedom of Information request to 340 councils in England. See Smokefree Ideology: How local authorities are waging war on choice and personal freedom.

Responding to a call by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health (run by the anti-smoking group ASH) for a consultation on raising the age of sale of tobacco to 21, Forest director Simon Clark said, "If you can have sex at 16, join the army or drive a car at 17, you should be allowed to buy tobacco at 18. In the eyes of the law you are an adult at 18 and once an adult you should be treated like one.

"Treating young adults like children is insulting their intelligence. Instead of prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people aged 18 to 20, the government should continue to educate teenagers about the health risks of smoking and encourage adults of all ages to take personal responsibility for their health. If however an adult chooses to smoke the government must respect that choice."

Our response was reported by the Press Association (MPs call for consultation on raising age to buy cigarettes to 21), Sky News, Metro and the (Newcastle) Chronicle. Clark was also interviewed by BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Sussex, BBC Radio Cumbria and TalkRadio.

The Cigarette Stick Health Warnings Bill, a private member’s bill introduced by Conservative peer Lord Young of Cookham, received its first reading recently. 

The plan to print 'smoking kills' warning on every individual cigarette not just packets was reported exclusively by the Sunday Mirror with a comment from Forest.

We called the proposal "laughable" but strictly speaking it's no laughing matter because it demonstrates the extent to which the tobacco control lobby will go to achieve its aim of a 'smoke free England' by 2030. 

You can read the draft Bill here. It's unlikely to become law but it's worth reading if only to see what madcap ideas anti-smoking campaigners are prepared to explore.

Fighting the nanny state one webinar at a time!

As many of you know we've been hosting a series of webinars for over a year. We've discussed a variety of smoking and vaping related matters but we've also addressed broader issues including the burgeoning nanny state.

Guests have included Natalie Bennett (now Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle), former leader of the Green Party; Claire Fox (now Baroness Fox of Buckley), director of the Academy of Ideas; Chris Snowdon (Institute of Economic Affairs); Tam Fry (National Obesity Forum); Telegraph columnist Madeline Grant; communications guru Gawain Towler; former MSP and MEP Brian Monteith and many more.

Vaping advocates have included John Dunne, CEO of the UK Vaping Industry Association; Joe Dunne (no relation), Respect Vapers; Daniel Pryor (Adam Smith Institute) and New Nicotine Alliance associate Judy Gibson.

As well as our panel events we've also interviewed a handful of special guests including celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson; restaurateur Ranald Macdonald, MD, Boisdale Restaurants; Simon Hills, former associate editor, The Times Magazine; and Jacob Grier, author, 'Rediscovering Tobacco: The creative destruction of the cigarette'.

This week (Thursday 8th July) we are hosting our final webinar before we take a summer break (but only from online events!) and we are delighted to welcome a consumer panel that includes Mark Littlewood, director general of the IEA; Henry Hill, news editor, Conservative Home; journalist Pat Nurse; vaping advocate Andy Morrison; and American smokers' rights activist Emily Wieja.

As well as hearing from our panelists we like to give our audience an opportunity to participate directly and ask questions or make points so do join us.

Click here to register.

Andrew Neil blasts the "boss class"

"We’ve got used to being bossed about during the pandemic, our freedoms curtailed as never before," GB News' Andrew Neil told viewers following the new channel's launch last month.

Hard to believe it's ten years since Conservative MP Sir Greg Knight co-hosted a Forest reception at the House of Commons.

Special guest on the day was Britain's greatest living artist David Hockney. David has continued to speak out on smoking-related issues and recently told The Sun:

"Not many people in England will defend smoking. They are intimidated by the medical profession and 'social pressure'."

See Art legend David Hockney on moving to France ‘to escape humourless bossy boots’ trying to stop him smoking.

David has been a friend of Forest's since he attended a private dinner in London in 2004. The following year he joined us at the Labour conference in Brighton where he spoke at a fringe meeting organised by Forest to highlight opposition to a public smoking ban.

Hockney's presence in Brighton was headline news and Forest director Simon Clark has described it as the "best day of my working life". Full story: 'Brighton breezy'.

Above: David Hockney with Greg Knight MP