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Original poster

To think public smoking should be banned

238 replies

CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 15:57

I live in London and am sick of constantly trying to avoid breathing in disgusting cigarette smoke or the weird sickly smell of vapes. There’s only so much you can swerve, speed past people or cross the road. I feel it’s very selfish to smoke in public spaces, especially crowded streets when people can’t avoid breathing it in. Why can’t people take responsibility for their own health - and others - and just give it up? It’s disgusting and really selfish.

OP posts:
cout · 29/10/2024 17:49

KrisAkabusi · 29/10/2024 16:01

Why can’t people take responsibility for their own health - and others - and just give it up?

Yup. It's just that easy! 🙄

I've never smoked a cigarette or had a vape in my life, but I think you're being unreasonable.

It actually is easy to quit.

TentEntWenTyfOur · 29/10/2024 17:49

How would 'in public' be defined, though?

Mirrorxxx · 29/10/2024 17:49

I agree. It shouldn’t be allowed to smoke right outside door ways or in busy places. I hate when you see supermarket staff smoking right outside snd they then go inside and touch the food.
Australia has much better rules

genesis92 · 29/10/2024 17:49

You're clearly extremely naive and have no idea what addiction is like

LSTMS30555 · 29/10/2024 17:49

@Newgirls doubt you've seen advertising of any cigarette brands/products in the UK they haven't been legally allowed for years.

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:49

SereneQuail · 29/10/2024 17:46

Actually having had a proper think about this, the smoking ban should be extended to within 50 metres of hospital entrances, all children’s playgrounds and within 10 metres of places serving food and drink for immediate consumption including kiosks/burger vans/coffee vans

That’s actually a brilliant idea. Maybe someone should start a petition!

OP posts:
Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:48

JubileeJuice · 29/10/2024 17:39

I agree with you, OP. If they want to smoke their filth, they can do it in their own homes and stink themselves up.

I'm a wheelchair user, so am usually at the same level as the hand holding their gross habit, so it blows directly into my face.

It really pisses me off how much money it costs the NHS too. There's an entire department in my local hospital dedicated to smoking-related illness and giving up smoking. Not to mention the other departments they end up in, when it inevitably gives them cancer. That money should be spent on people who get ill through no fault of their own. Either that, or smokers should have to pay for smoke related treatment (I feel the same about drug and alcohol users too).

Sorry to hear about it blowing directly in your face :( That’s just gross isn’t it

OP posts:
StarSlinger · 29/10/2024 17:47

CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:32

I’ve never seen anyone vomit in public. piss maybe twice? Never witnessed a car accident. Whereas this is multiple times daily. Completely different things.

Show quote history

Try working in the city centre or walking up a city centre street first thing in the morning. The streets are covered in vomit and the gateway entrance and steps to my place of work are always covered in piss. I'd take a brief blast of smoke or vape than having to walk through that. Our cleaners have to bleach those steps every single day.

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:47

JubileeJuice · 29/10/2024 17:39

I agree with you, OP. If they want to smoke their filth, they can do it in their own homes and stink themselves up.

I'm a wheelchair user, so am usually at the same level as the hand holding their gross habit, so it blows directly into my face.

It really pisses me off how much money it costs the NHS too. There's an entire department in my local hospital dedicated to smoking-related illness and giving up smoking. Not to mention the other departments they end up in, when it inevitably gives them cancer. That money should be spent on people who get ill through no fault of their own. Either that, or smokers should have to pay for smoke related treatment (I feel the same about drug and alcohol users too).

I agree actually re being angry at how much they cost the nhs.

not sure I agree about drugs and alcohol as I do think they are so addictive, and when someone is in the grip of them they are not themselves. And they lose so much personally anyway, they are punished a lot already.

but cigarettes are just very unnecessary. And it’s not like you lose the ability to think clearly when you’re addicted to them. You’re just consciously smoking your life away!

OP posts:
SereneQuail · 29/10/2024 17:46

Actually having had a proper think about this, the smoking ban should be extended to within 50 metres of hospital entrances, all children’s playgrounds and within 10 metres of places serving food and drink for immediate consumption including kiosks/burger vans/coffee vans

EveryDayisFriday · 29/10/2024 17:46

I agree, however its quite rare to see or smell a cigarette around here these days, it's such an expensive and pointless habit. I canmot understand why I was completely addicted for 23yrs.

JobHuntingMum · 29/10/2024 17:46

itsmylife7 · 29/10/2024 16:14

Last time I was in London I couldn't smell the difference between cigarette smoke and car fumes.

This. The cig/vape smoke is the least of your worries, OP.

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:42

BoundaryGirl3939 · 29/10/2024 16:53

It's a free world. They can smoke/vape on a public road if they want to. City life will never be perfect. You seem controlling.

Nope. I don’t like having choice taken away from me - to not breathe smoke. That’s not controlling. That’s just common sense. I would like to be ‘free’ to do that.

people who accuse people of being controlling are usually the ones who like the overstep very reasonable boundaries.

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 29/10/2024 17:41

fashionqueen0123 · 29/10/2024 16:19

It’s disgusting and childish. Lots of other countries ban it within so many feet of the buildings. The U.K. is so behind.
Atleast smoking is literally dying out and disposable vapes are being banned. Luckily where I live is an affluent area and you barely ever see anyone smoking.

They just snorting coke instead

Bushmillsbabe · 29/10/2024 17:41

I don't think we can stop people smoking in public places.

But I do think it should be banned on school grounds and within maybe 50 of school gates, and hospital grounds etc.

Panama2 · 29/10/2024 17:40

AS said up thread it is probably a working class thing and them not being from an affluent area and all. They won't be able to smoke in their own homes as they can't afford their own home and have to rent in a non affluent area with other working class plebs all standing outside their rental properties smoking

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:39

Gingerbee · 29/10/2024 16:49

Over the summer, I lost count of the number of people smoking outside of cafes etc. The ones that really annoy me are the ones who turn away from their friends to exhale right on to the neighbouring tables. Witnessed a toddler in a pushchair scream and saw smoke. Someone discarded their cigarette and some how it landed in the pushchair.
Also, as other PP have said the smell of weed can be overwhelming in certain towns like Bristol.

That’s honestly completely disgusting.

I really think that people should start calling it out.

if it bothers roughly 50% of the population, why are we letting the other 50% get away with it?

OP posts:
JubileeJuice · 29/10/2024 17:39

I agree with you, OP. If they want to smoke their filth, they can do it in their own homes and stink themselves up.

I'm a wheelchair user, so am usually at the same level as the hand holding their gross habit, so it blows directly into my face.

It really pisses me off how much money it costs the NHS too. There's an entire department in my local hospital dedicated to smoking-related illness and giving up smoking. Not to mention the other departments they end up in, when it inevitably gives them cancer. That money should be spent on people who get ill through no fault of their own. Either that, or smokers should have to pay for smoke related treatment (I feel the same about drug and alcohol users too).

AnnaDelvorkina · 29/10/2024 17:39

Totally agree with you, OP.

At the least, entrances to shops, banks, etc., outdoor markets, bus stops and train / tram platforms should be smoke-free, as well as outdoor seating in bars, cafés, restaurants.

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:38

Boomer55 · 29/10/2024 16:48

If you live in London (like me), surely you’re more bothered about various forms of weed, and illegal drugs being openly taken?

Like it or not, smoking is a legal pastime. 🙄

This is a very rare occurrence.

i want a simple thing, which is to walk from my workplace to the local train station without inhaling the smoke of 20-30 cigarettes or vapes.

i don’t see any open drug taking (!) or smell any weed!

OP posts:
DancingGerbil · 29/10/2024 17:38

Everyone smokes weed where I live so a vape is the least of my issues.

NippyCrab · 29/10/2024 17:37

Not rtft but I agree 100%, i don't really mind a vape but smoking is vile! My neighbours smoke and they are in and out constantly. I can't have my windows open at the rear of the house or leave the back door open as it comes in right through the house. Disgusting!

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:36

Victoriancat · 29/10/2024 16:43

Your outside in the fresh air and most of what's in them is inhaled by them down into their own lungs, with free flowing air it would barely effect you if at all...

Apart from making me feel sick and making my clothes and hair smell? And where’s the scientific evidence to say if I’m sat next to a smoker outside a cafe I’m not negatively affected? You know passive smoking is bad right? It’s perfectly possible to get lungs full of smoke when you’re walking down a London street - huge quantities of people smoke!

OP posts:
Bignanna · 29/10/2024 17:35

GoldCat255 · 29/10/2024 17:21

I agree OP. It is disgusting.
If they want to pollute their lungs with crap, get them to do it in the comfort of their own homes.

And enjoy the yellowed ceilings and furnishings reeking of stale smoke!

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 17:34

JemimaTiggywinkles · 29/10/2024 16:37

I think banning things in public needs to have actual evidence of harm to others. "It smells horrid" would be a reason to ban farting in public, so that isn't a good enough reason to ban stuff imo.

havent you ever heard of passive smoking?

OP posts: