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?

[Dancergirl]

Traffic fumes are completely irrelevant.

Smokers can choose where to light up. Those who choose to smoke near children, people eating etc are just selfish.

I can't wait for a ban on smoking in all public places.

YANBU I would have said something personally but not in an aggressive way because I think you get better results said in a nice way.

[NorahBone]

Wouldn't care at all, unless they were blowing smoke directly in my child's face or offering them a toke. I've never smoked, but I would have thought a park bench, while your children are at a safe distance, is the ideal time and place for a fag.
I hate when people leave their butts on the ground though. I have a one year old who loves to pick things up.

[LadyDeGrump]

Are drivers not also selfish Dancergirl?

Is harm really caused on the basis of selfishness rather than actual damage?

[sweetgrape]

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

[southeastastra]

from the money they would save treating smokers on the nhs?

[FurtherSupport]

That's nonsense southeastastra. Smokers don't cost the state any more than super healthy types who live to old age and beyond. Die young from a smoking related disease and you save the NHS shedloads of money in geriatric care and don't claim a state pension for 30 years.

I'm not a smoker, never have been and hate people smoking around me but people being stroppy really do need to get their facts straight.

[SophiePendragon]

Yanbu

I wish people would fuck off with their cigarettes and let me and my children breathe and play in peace.

FFS.

[SophiePendragon]

and yes, it does put your health at risk, little by little.

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

I wish people would fuck off with their cigarettes and let me and my children breathe and play in peace.

I wish you and your ilk would fuck off with your endless griping and moaning & let smokers enjoy their legal habit in the great outdoors, but it appears unlikely to happen - on MN at least, in the real world you're not so brave!

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

it does put your health at risk

I'm more likely to have a coronary reading some of the twattish comments on this fucking site at the the moment, than I am to die of any smoke that blows 30 feet to reach my nostrils....

[morethanpotatoprints]

I ignore the signs tbh.
if I'm outside I'll have a cig and smoking in the play area is no different than walking around the boundary smoking, because it travels. if the equipment comes right up to the fence do you suggest people shouldn't be able to smoke outside the play area then?

[FurtherSupport]

I don't like smoking but I do think there are a lot of things that affect our Dc's health, that we should be crosser about, than people smoking outdoors.

People waiting outside schools (or anywhere really) with their engines running is one. People who let their animals foul gardens. The sugar industry. Overuse of antibiotics (and anti-bac cleaners) How many do you want?

[RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime]

Just because you can do something legally, doesn't mean you should.

Not as bad as the group of adults in my local park the other week who thought it was a great opportunity to sit in the sun ignoring their child running riot and enjoying a spliff next to a load of toddlers on the swings.

[SophiePendragon]

IKnowIAm you get a choice about reading my comments. I don't get a choice about breathing your smoke. Nor does my toddler. At least we can choose not to but it means leaving the playground doesn't it.

I don't think that is fair.

[hazeyjane]

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

Is that true? I thought in the UK it was about 13,000 premature deaths a year related to traffic pollution, compared to approx 100,000 pemature deaths related to smoking?

[morethanpotatoprints]

sophie

Unless you have a tiny park of course you have a choice
You can play on other things, move to another area and then come back.
Unless you are very close to the smoker it's not going to harm your child.
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.

[southeastastra]

is it really that hard to not have a fag for an hour or so? just be considerate to others, it's not hard to do it is?

[FurtherSupport]

I can't believe I defending smokers but it's not just an hour is it southeast? They're outdoors at the park where they can smoke, after that they're going to be in a car with DC, shopping, collecting other DC, where they can't smoke.

I'm sorry but I really can't believe that passive smoking in the open air can be in the least bit harmful and certainly no-where near are risky as countless other thing that I'm sure you expose your DC to without thinking. Have they had any sugar today, processed meat, walked by a road, used a wireless device, do you have carpets in your house, travel by air?

[southeastastra]

is this pollution top trumps?

[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?

[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.

[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.