Smokers who drop butts in street will cost pubs £110 fines

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When the smoking ban comes into force on 1 July, local authorities will be allowed to fine businesses up to £110 if they fail to clear up tobacco-related litter or install bins for it.

The powers come amid fears that littering will soar when England becomes smoke-free and smokers are forced to congregate outside buildings.

Individual smokers already face an £80 fixed penalty if they are caught dropping cigarette butts in the street.

The Department for the Environment wants the corporate sector to face up to its responsibilities as well.

Local Environment Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "It's an offence to drop litter of any sort, including cigarette ends.

"Going smoke-free doesn't change this simple fact and certainly doesn't mean the rest of us have to tolerate this anti-social behaviour. As 1 July approaches, businesses-should be preparing to deal with the impact their customers have on the area around their premises because the penalties could apply to them too."

An annual survey of litter levels in England found that four out of five streets are already blighted by cigarette butts.

Pro-smoking campaigners said the Government would only have itself to blame if the problem increased after 1 July.

Simon Clark, director of smokers' rights group Forest, said: "Many people warned the Government there would be an increase in smoking litter.

"This could all have been avoided had the Government allowed a more reasonable approach and allowed smoking rooms, which were perfectly acceptable to the majority of workers.

"There's a responsibility on two sides here. We would never condone smokers dropping cigarette butts and littering the streets, but I think local authorities have to play their part. They need to put up more cigarette bins and be sympathetic when businesses apply for planning permission for them."

Jo Valentine, chief executive of business group London First, said firms would work with local councils to stop littering, adding: "Who wants to see London streets become communal ashtrays?"