AIBU to think that smoking should not be promoted

[helloclitty]

in outside areas of cafes and bars by ash trays being placed on each table.

I am getting a bit tired of the best areas (for hot weather) in bars and cafes being totally taken up by smokers. In some cafes it's like a sea of smoke due to smokers being forced onto these tables.

Aibu to think it would be nice to sit outside and not be surrounded by smoke? It inevitably forces the non smokers inside and perpetuates the problem.

Could cafes have an allocation of tables for non smokers outside to stop this problem?

How about the floor?

I smoke and don't particularly like an ashtray onthe table when I'm eating either. I find the floor very useful.

Putting ashtrays on tables is promoting smoking as much as wine glasses on tables is promoting drinking.

Why do need a waiter?! Why can't you move it onto the floor somewhere? Or state your problem by taking it to the counter and complaining?

There's every need for sarcasm IMO as this is Yet Another Smoker Bashing Thread.

Why not just round 'em all up and shoot em into space? If the vessel explodes no bother as you've gotten rid of the fuckers.

Right - carry a small bag with you. Put ashtray into bag. Sorted.

And don't say you don't want to handle it - you used to be a publican, so that's no excuse.

And now you're no longer a publican and it doesn't affect your income (opinion quite often comes down to money!) stop moaning.

iamnotacowbag
Because if I moved it onto the floor I would have had ash and fag butts blowing everywhere.
I didn't go inside to complain because I didn't want to leave 2 DC's alone outside, 1 is very young.

So the outside area was full, from your description I can only assume that everyone else there must have been smoking for it to be so bad. If if annoys you so much why didn't you go inside?

Can they not be taken inside with you?

Ash and butts not blown everywhere when it's on the table then, just the floor?

Putting ashtrays on tables is promoting smoking as much as wine glasses on tables is promoting drinking.

Retromum I have never seen wine glasses on the tables outside of a cafe or bar ever! And wine glasses on the table in restaurants are most definitely to promote drinking. The difference being when you state your drinking preference the wine glass is normally taken away unlike ashtrays.

why dont you just sit outside with them? there will be fresh air aswell and since you are obv not a smoker presumably your children arent around it at other times so surely the couple of times a year you can just out up with it?

You are beginning to sound quite precious now.

It's an ashtray, not Napalm.

iamnotacowbag

I have already said the ash was blowing about over the table too. Putting it on the floor so it blows around our feet is not a solution IMO.

yanbu there should be no ashtrays, then the smokers(I am one) can just stub them out where they like and cause litter.

Helloclitty, you've obviously not tried any of the restaurants at Westfield shopping centre. We did, yesterday. Wineglasses outside on the table, along with the ashtrays. Funny, I don't drink, and I don't see the wine glasses as them promoting alcohol to me, though I understand they are there for those who do drink and would like to. I think it's the same with the ashtrays. And the waiter would remove the ashtray from your table if you just ask.

It's an ashtray, not Napalm

Agreed but I was paying for a positive experience which was not particularly pleasant.

retromum As I said before I was talking specifically about cafes and bars not restaurants.

Ah, well. You'll know better next time then.

Smokers pay for a positive experience too, and to them, that may include smoking. Would you rather they just left cigarette buts on the floor? Or would you prefer them to just never leave home instead?

You know you could have gone to another cafe right? You weren't forced to use this one, nor were you forced to sit outside.

What do you expect smokers to do? Have one outdoor space in each town? Why didn't you sit inside? I go outside in all weathers to smoke. Or move the damn ashtray a few meters away so the ash wasn't blowing at you. It's really not hard.

Reminds me of when we were on holiday a few years ago in Rhodes. Sitting outside a cafe having a cigarette with a drink when a group of people came and sat at the table beside us. They coughed a little and then called the waiter over. They made a big show of saying "Don't you have any NON-SMOKING tables??" The waiter went , lifted the ashtray off their table and walked off.

theonlywayisgerard
As I have already said there was no where to move it a few meters away.

And you couldn't find a waiter to take it, or hand it to the bar staff yourself? They have wash rooms to wash your hands when you're done. Could that not have worked for you?

kiss my arse sanctimonious non smoking types who post just to get the nod from other sanctimonious smoking types make me so annoyed my pubes go straight.

kiss
my
arse

OP, did you choose to sit outside this particular cafe on purpose so it would give you something to maon about on MN?
Why not just go to a different cafe with no ashtrays on the table?

I will accept IABU as I am clearly out voted. I will remember to either stay indoors, choose another cafe or as whiffle said, take my own bag and dispose of the butts myself.

YABU