But it is still legal to smoke outside. As restrictions have eased it has meant that beer gardens have been able to open again. We asked our readers if they thought smoking in beer gardens should be banned. Here’s what you had to say. Isobel Fenton said: “Personally I’d happily see smoking banned altogether but realistically it would be tough on people stopping them smoking outdoors.” Danni Atkins commented: “As a non-smoker it is super gross but smokers do need somewhere to go and have just as much right as the rest of us to enjoy beer gardens. We won’t all be outdoors forever! Surely there’s a better solution to banning it all together.”
CONCERNS: More than 100 areas in England see rise in Covid rates on pub reopening weekend. Picture: PA More than 100 areas in England are experiencing a rise in Covid-19 infection rates according to Public Health England data. The Press Association news agency compiled the figures based on Public Health England data with 103 areas across the country seeing a week-on-week rise in case numbers as lockdowns eased. Readers had mixed reviews about the numbers increasing. Some people expected it, while others thought it was too soon to see a rise in cases from pubs reopening. Lee Robertson said: “Of course it was going to happen.”