Anti-smoking lobby group Action for Smoking and Health (ASH) has backed away from a supporting a total outdoor smoking ban.
In a welcome step for pubs, a spokeswoman for ASH - which lobbied hard for the smoking ban that's currently in place - said a "case by case or voluntary approach is what's needed to solve this problem in outdoor spaces" rather than Government legislation.
It comes as the Government considers extending the ban to entrances of buildings and even beer gardens for its three-year review of the ban.
The ASH spokewoman told the Morning Advertiser: "The smoke-free issue is important, and we do need to have a debate (on current legislation) to assess the level of public opinion on the topic.
"In principle, in places where a lot of people are congregated, like sports stadia, there is a case for smoking not to be allowed and indeed in some grounds this is already the case.
"But an outdoor environment is slightly different to indoors — smoke drift can be a nuisance but is unlikely to be a health hazard.
"Of all the policies in the smoke-free strategy, extending smoke free areas is not going to be a priority for us from a public health point of view."
Meanwhile, British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "Pubs invested around £100 million in outside smoking areas in preparation for the ban in 2007.
"If there were any further changes or extensions in how the ban operates, this could result in hugely unwelcome and unnecessary new costs, and lost trade. We will certainly be making this very clear in any consultation process."