Other parents smoking in a kids play park

[brunettebunny]

Was at the local kids play park the other day with my DS who is 3, and we were just playing in the sandpit when I started to smell cigarette smoke wafting over, I stood up to see where it was coming from and there was a dad and a grandma (I guess) sitting on the bench nearby (within the play park) puffing away (they had a couple of kids playing in the park).
I looked around to see if there was any no smoking signs but couldn't see any inside the park, but when we left I saw pinned to the fence on the outside of the park was a 'Young lungs at play' bored with a message about not smoking in the park. But this sign didn't look like an official 'no smoking' sign. So I guess my question is really more around what people are legally allowed to do regarding smoking in a kids play park. Is it just advice not to smoke, but not enforceable?
I was really annoyed about this as we left the park sooner than planned (I am also 28 weeks pregnant so didn't want to be passive smoking), and I feel annoyed with myself for not going up and saying something, but then as I say I am not sure if I would actually have a leg to stand on! It was only us and them in the park at the time too, so I kind of felt a bit wary of approaching them. Maybe i'm just a wimp! What would you have done in this situation, do you think I ABU for thinking they could have waited half an hour before lighting up when they left and being considerate about other people and children (and their own) or is just how the world works these days?

[fakenamefornow]

Anyone listening to radio 4 right now? They are talking about smoking and according to them smoking actually DOES cost more to society than it raises in tax. Theyve included things like loss in productively and damage done by fires. I'm very surprised.

[Dancergirl]

Did you know more people die from lung disease caused by car polition than smoking ?

No I didn't know that. But this thread is about SMOKING. It doesn't make it ok to light up near children, people eating etc just because more damage is being caused by traffic pollution. It's just compounding the overall effect. The effect of passive smoking is very real.

[Dancergirl]

Are drivers not also selfish Dancergirl?

Yes some of them are. But for every car that goes past, you have no way of knowing if that person has a real need to use their car at that point and there is no alternative for them.

There is NO excuse for smoking near children, it's just horrible and selfish.

[Nurserywindow]

I agree Sophie, but that would mean banning smoking in many outdoor areas, an idea many people seem to take huge exception to.

Personally I think if you're in a public space where other people are going to be forced to breathe in your smoke, then you shouldn't be allowed to smoke whether its indoors or outside.

[SophiePendragon]

I would have walked outside the gate/fence however and lit up, and people would have still whined about it. well yes if it still meant they had to breathe it in because smoke travels.

It's good of you to not do it inside the playground, but it won't change much if the wind is in the wrong direction iyswim.

I have sympathy for smokers. I have known some wonderful people who smoked, it didn't stop me liking them, dating them or whatever.

I just think it has to be something you keep to yourself, and don't inflict on other people. As far as possible anyway.

[Jayne35]

Another ex smoker who wouldn't have smoked inside a playground. I would have walked outside the gate/fence however and lit up, and people would have still whined about it. Mumsnet in the warm weather is comical with the anti smoking/anti dog threads!

[Chipshopninja]

Ex smoker here

Never would have sparked up in a children's play ground, bus stop etc. just common courtesy

Yanbu op

People talking about banning it in all open public spaces are though

[SophiePendragon]

People could still smoke in their own houses though if it was banned in open spaces.

That would still bring in the revenue.

Except a lot of people don't want to pollute their own houses and would get the hump about this.

Smoking is bizarre.

[SophiePendragon]

Btw I don't feel the need to preach all the time either. But I do like to comment on the occasional thread, you know, where it's relevant.

[SophiePendragon]

It was a generic 'your'. I should have taken the time to figure out who was actually a smoker, but as you were arguing against me I didn't bother to.

Sorry for not bothering to check. It was lazy of me.

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

I don't get a choice about breathing your smoke.

Well you do Sophie because I don't smoke.

I just don't feel the need to preach all the time & just get on with life, secure in the knowledge that someone smoking in the big outdoors has no effect at all on my or mine.....

[sweetgrape]

I wonder where the government would get the huge lost tobacco revenue from if everyone were to give up smoking.

from the money they would save treating smokers on the nhs?
The tax the government makes on tobacco sales is massive. Far far more than the running costs of the whole of the NHS put together.
Treating obesity costs more than smoke related illnesses as well.

[alrayyan]

I haven't lived in the UK since the smoking ban. I live in a country where you can smoke in bars and cafes.
I am back for a holiday and am aghast at the amount of smokers outside every building etc. The ban seems to have done little more than normalise smoking for young people imo. before a walk round the town wouldn't be filled with pavement smokers and pissheads outside pubs. At least let people have warm comfy areas to smoke that are indoors so kids don't think it's what grown ups do. And I say this as a grudging giver upper. I would give anything to be allowed to smoke!

[southeastastra]

i would gladly join you for a day, and you can join me for a day in my job in working with special needs children.

why do you think i am suggesting banning smoking anywhere other than in playgrounds

[PunkrockerGirl]

Pretty much, south. I'm a palliative care nurse of many years and yes, the cancer patients whose disease is caused by smoking tend to die young. Particularly lung and pancreatic cancers.
I'm hardly hysteric (do you mean hysterical?) when I deal with patients dying on a daily basis, many from smoking related diseases. Perhaps you'd like to come and join me for a day caring for the younger ones and their families and children?
The best thing about working in a hospice In end of life care, rather than a hospital, is the legal exemption we have to the indoor smoking ban so that these patients can enjoy a fag in the last days of their lives. You do realise that your children will not contract some awful lung disease just because someone smoked in the children's playground? Grip firmly needed.

[SophiePendragon]

I wonder, do you drive? I don't think you should be allowed to pollute the atmosphere.
perhaps we should ban cars except for essential workers, because it isn't fair that I don't drive and don't want my dc breathing in your fumes.

I'd be DELIGHTED to go along with it if this happened.

[FurtherSupport]

I thought Spain had some of the strictest anti-smoking rules in Europe, including, I believe, not in playgrounds.

But I agree with you re smokers doing the country a massive favour financially Punk.

[southeastastra]

how am i being ridiculous? do all smokers really die young and quickly, do you have proof of that?

where have i said ban it completely, i said ban it in play parks where children play? you sound hysteric tbh

[PunkrockerGirl]

Don't be ridiculous, southeastastra. Smokers tend to die young and relatively quickly. They don't tend to live long enough to need long term care or to claim a pension.
If smoking is banned completely, what aspect of your lifestyle will you happily pay the revenue on which will inevitably be imposed in the absence of smoking?
I'm in Spain at the moment and the lack of hysteria, hand flapping and fake coughing when someone lights up is an absolute joy.

[RachelRagged]

Window not Widow . Sorry

[RachelRagged]

NurseryWidow .. that is not what I meant or said , I never said how dare anyone have an opinion.

To say ban smoking anywhere outside IS ridiculous.

[Fleecyleesy]

I went on holiday to a Spanish speaking place.

By the children's play area it said "No smoking in children's play area" in English only. How shameful that the British are known even abroad for smoking where kids are playing.

[bolleauxnouveau]

Another one here who objects to the dog ends left behind. Happy for you to fill your lungs but breathing other people's smoke always feels a bit like smelling someone else's farts, it's probably not harmful in small quantities but just unpleasant.

[southeastastra]

i am an ex smoker but i just wouldn't have smoked in a play area, like i wouldn't let a dog loose or drop litter all over the area. it's just a considerate thing to do isn't it?