UK venues implement smoking bans due to wildfire risks

Several establishments in the United Kingdom have implemented temporary smoking and vaping restrictions due to heightened wildfire risks caused by prolonged dry weather and tinder-dry vegetation.

Chester Zoo in Cheshire has banned smoking and vaping across its entire property, including its 600 acres of land and nature reserves. The zoo stated that even small ignition sources could cause rapidly spreading wildfires, leading to long-lasting damage to precious species and habitats. Visitors are directed to a designated smoking area on hardstanding in the main car park.

In Hertfordshire, the pub The Goat in Berkhamsted has introduced a temporary smoking ban in its garden. The establishment cited government weather alerts and the risk posed by dry grass and vegetation. While smoking is prohibited in the back garden, a designated area with ashtrays remains available at the side of the premises.