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AIBU?

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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:
snarkygal · 29/10/2024 16:45

YANBU. It stinks and it's selfish.

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...

Gogogo12345 · 29/10/2024 16:40

Newgirls · 29/10/2024 16:24

I was in France over the summer and hardly saw anyone smoking or vaping. Or adverts for it. Come back to the UK and it’s everywhere. Our advertising laws need to tighten up for a start

Thought tobacco advertising was banned years ago tbh. Probably before the turn of the century

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.

Havalona · 29/10/2024 16:37

I think objectors are merely jealous of the fact that smoker of cigarettes can afford to pay £20 a pack these days.

Getonwitit · 29/10/2024 16:36

Do you drive ?

Gogogo12345 · 29/10/2024 16:35

Cherrysoup · 29/10/2024 16:07

Couldn’t care if people smoke, but it is a bit much, imo, to come out of a supermarket into an unavoidable cloud of second hand fag smoke. I’d like public spaces like supermarket car parks to be enforced as non-smoking. Can people not cope for the hour it takes to do a shop that they have to immediately spark up on exiting?

I’m an ex-smoker, I get the whole addiction thing, but I’d rather load up, go home, make a cuppa and then have had a fag. The irony of seeing a guy with an oxygen tank smoking a cigarette through his trach hole outside the entrance to A&E the other day was not lost on me.

Are some of them not shop staffing their break though? If so it's not just an hour while doing shopping

2dogsandabudgie · 29/10/2024 16:35

CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 16:13

But who are they to smoke in my face and in my space? They can smoke in their own spaces - but they shouldn’t subject others who haven’t consciously made that decision to it.

Show quote history

Outside is for everyone so not sure how a smoker can be in your space.

angelcake20 · 29/10/2024 16:33

I absolutely detest smoking so you are definitely NBU. So pleased that it is now banned on station platforms here. I hate not being able to sit outside at a cafe as smokers mean you can't breathe. Round here there is way more weed than tobacco and that's even worse so getting rid of both would be great.

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 16:32

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 29/10/2024 16:29

The ones that fuck me off are those who walk out of a building and immediately light up without giving any thought to others around them. Was sat outside a fish and chip place on the pier recently when a group walked out of the restaurant and lit up right at the side of our table, they then started talking about taking photos of the view to which I said they needed to move as they fucking stunk.

Good for you! I feel like it’s taboo to call people out but maybe I should start doing it?

yea people who smoke on outdoor cafe tables are gross. I was at a lovely cafe the other day and one table out of ten was smoking. Did they not feel a bit embarrassed being the only ones to force others to smell their smoke while eating? It’s the height of selfishness - puts me off my food and also makes my hair and clothes smell if I’m sat too close.

maybe I should start saying something? Does anyone do this?

or just passive aggressively wave at them lol

OP posts:
FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 29/10/2024 16:29

The ones that fuck me off are those who walk out of a building and immediately light up without giving any thought to others around them. Was sat outside a fish and chip place on the pier recently when a group walked out of the restaurant and lit up right at the side of our table, they then started talking about taking photos of the view to which I said they needed to move as they fucking stunk.

ticktickticktickBOOM · 29/10/2024 16:28

Floit · 29/10/2024 16:14

I voted YANBU because I am sick of trying to access buildings and being forced to walk through clouds of smoke or rank vape stench to get in!

Smokers and vapers shouldn't be allowed to vent their shit sticks near public building entrances, particularly hospitals ffs. They're just inherently selfish people.

OMG yes hospital entrances! I was about to come on here to say that. It's the only place I am forced to breathe fag smoke nowadays, the irony!

tobee · 29/10/2024 16:27

No.

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 16:27

Notimeforaname · 29/10/2024 16:15

I disagree with you op. Smokers already have to compromise by going outside. The air is already full of pollutants from vehicles and much more. Unless we're going to stop people driving for the health of others, leave the smokers to it😂

They don’t have to go outside - they can smoke in their own homes!

OP posts:
Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 16:24

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.

It is probably disproportionately a working class habit. Increasing health and wealth inequalities. Another reason to hate it.

it’s an issue for me mostly in central london - ie daily commute through SE1.

OP posts:
Newgirls · 29/10/2024 16:24

I was in France over the summer and hardly saw anyone smoking or vaping. Or adverts for it. Come back to the UK and it’s everywhere. Our advertising laws need to tighten up for a start

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 16:23

Floit · 29/10/2024 16:14

I voted YANBU because I am sick of trying to access buildings and being forced to walk through clouds of smoke or rank vape stench to get in!

Smokers and vapers shouldn't be allowed to vent their shit sticks near public building entrances, particularly hospitals ffs. They're just inherently selfish people.

100%. I wouldn’t mind enclosed smokers rooms outside public buildings - like they have in bars in foreign countries - but yes it’s particularly depressing outside hospitals. Often people in gowns attached to drips smoking. It’s also just heartbreaking. My dad died of lung cancer after smoking since his childhood (he gave up in his 50s) and it makes me sad to see already sick people do this to themselves.

OP posts:
OrangeKettle · 29/10/2024 16:21

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.

This made me laugh and I’ve no idea why!

Original poster
CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 16:21

Havalona · 29/10/2024 16:13

Cig/vape smoke banned in public?. OK should we ban cars also as they are spewing stuff out in public places too. And often those objecting to smoking drive the biggest cars for a shop/school that's five minutes down the road.

Life is full of judgment isn't it.

I don’t own a car actually - and when I would like one, yes, I do actually think of air pollution and decide to make do with public transport, or rent a zip car. Because I care about the air we have to breathe in and I believe we all have a collective responsibility for that. But that’s a crime now - all my fault for judging, and not anyone else’s for owning unnecessary cars or smoking…

OP posts:
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.

SereneQuail · 29/10/2024 16:16

I absolutely agree with you.
However, I am the worst type of person to ask about this - an ex smoker.

needapokerface · 29/10/2024 16:15

Unless they are in your car, or house then they are not in your space, they are in a public space polluting the fresh air, which is already polluted with car fumes, bus fumes, foul smelling perfume, take aways, the list is endless !!!

Or are you going to ban all that aswell !!!!

Notimeforaname · 29/10/2024 16:15

I disagree with you op. Smokers already have to compromise by going outside. The air is already full of pollutants from vehicles and much more. Unless we're going to stop people driving for the health of others, leave the smokers to it😂

itsmylife7 · 29/10/2024 16:14

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

Floit · 29/10/2024 16:14

I voted YANBU because I am sick of trying to access buildings and being forced to walk through clouds of smoke or rank vape stench to get in!

Smokers and vapers shouldn't be allowed to vent their shit sticks near public building entrances, particularly hospitals ffs. They're just inherently selfish people.