To think that smoking in a cafe garden is selfish?

[cupkakesandkittens]

I was in a cafe for lunch earlier, beautiful weather so sat in the garden at the back to eat, and there were a few people smoking as they ate/drank.
I understand that it's an outdoor space, and it's legal, but to smoke in such close proximity to other people who are enjoying a meal, is just selfish.
I also understand that I could have sat inside, but I didn't want to sit inside on such a nice day.
It just really irritates me, can they not last 30 mins or an hour without a fag?

YANBU. Anybody can sit in or outside. Just a shame yoy can't eat a meal without scratters a ruining it. Not too much to expect people not to smoke near others that are eating. Any decent people wouldn't do that.

The change in our attitudes towards smokers and smoking is fascinating.
Not so long ago it was the norm for pubs, cafes and bars to be filled with smoke from cigarettes. The only time one might get a narrowed-eyes sideways look was if smoking at a restaurant table.
I was one of those smokers. I used to feel quite outraged that anyone would make a show of wafting my second hand smoke away
I honestly cannot believe I used to behave like that. That a drug addiction was so sanctioned in a society where "real drugs" were so frowned upon (iyswim)
The ban on smoking in public places has brought such a strong change in attitudes.
IMO, as that annoying ex smoker, YANBU. But as a smoker nothing was more 'pleasurable' to me that sitting outside with a drink and a roll up in the summer. When I was addicted to nicotine the idea of going out for coffee without having a cigarette was simply unthinkable.

My parents pub have managed to get around this by having an an outdoor eating area that's non smoking only
You can eat outside in a different area and smoke but the courtyard bit is non smoking. Works pretty well

And I HATE people smoking near my children.

While it's still legal, YABU.

YANBU and I'm a smoker. Wouldn't smoke round food or children personally.

YANBU my asthma is really severe and one of the triggers is cigarettes. I also have a young son who has a 50% increased chance of developing asthma because I have it and one of the strongest recommedations to stop that happening is to not allow him to be around cigarette smoke. Why should people such as myself have to sit inside a cafe on a warm day because other people simply can't walk a few feet away from their table for a cigarette?

And I HATE people smoking near my children.

I would direct your concerns towards the extremely worrying amount of pollutants they are breathing in and out on a daily basis, and current UK air pollution levels rather than someone having a fag near your kids in a pub garden.

I think YABU and I am a non-smoker.

Oh, yay, another summer smoker-bashing thread! No, I don't smoke anymore. I vape. YABU.

Whatever will the pearl-clutchers do when smoking is made illegal? What next? Not other sources of pollution, surely, those are so necessary.

It will be interesting to see what's next for them.

(Awaits first of annual summer threads complaining about BBQs)

Yanbu

They should bugger off to a designated smoking area away from people who want to eat without the rank smell and smoke haze all around them

Yay summer!

There'll have been smokers sitting shivering out there with their coffees all winter, or at least all the months the cafe opens its garden. They're not being 'selfish' just because the sun has suddenly come out and you've decided you want to sit outside. They'll still all be out there when the weather turns to shit in the autumn and you're all cosy inside, having forgotten all about it.

Why don't you go to one of the increasing number of cafes that provide outdoor non-smoking areas?

The garden almost certainly is the designated smoking area.

And it is not unreasonable to smoke in the smoking area. As they do year round. YABU

IthinkIamsinking
I'll direct my concerns where I like thank you

I also don't want them to ride their bikes without helmets
Or travel in a car without their safety seats

Perfectly capable of having more than one concern.

I gave up smoking last year and towards the end I actually used to go into (yes in) a large bush to smoke outside my work, as far away as humans as possible because of how rude people would be if I was even vaguely nearby and my smoke wafted anywhere near them by way of a gust of wind. In the bush they couldn't see me

i am on the fence.
I would have smoked in a pub garden
Probably not a cafe though. It doesn't seem proper. I would have found a big bush.
For some reason it feels more acceptable to smoke in a pub garden than anywhere else

expatinscotland - (Awaits first of annual summer threads complaining about BBQs)

Nah, BBQ's is naice middle class smoke. No health risk there

Fenulla
Completely missed the point.

I think it was probably just not a very relevant point.
Or are there people who are happy for others to smoke around their children?

Nah, YABU.

If the cafe owners are happy for smokers to sit there then I think it's a bit much for you to sit in a smoking-friendly area and complain about people smoking.

You're not obliged to give them your custom if you don't like the clientele.

Expat we had the BBQ thread yesterday

'Or are there people who are happy for others to smoke around their children?'

I can't say I really care. They'll come into contact with all sorts of behaviours, they already have. I'm more worried about air pollution from industry and fracking contributing to water pollution than a few puffs of smoke hanging in the air.

I have a medical allergy to cigarette smoke. If I get a lungful - which I often do accidentally when I suddenly come around a corner or emerge from a shop and happen to suck in a draught of air just as some smoker is exhaling - I have a mad scramble to get out my Ventolin, which I then have to sit down and use whilst trying desperately NOT to panic as I feel my airway close up and stop me from breathing. It is utterly terrifying, every single time. Once or twice I've had to call an ambulance.

Two people die from asthma attacks every day.

Smoking isn't necessary in a cafe or pub garden. Smokers don't NEED to smoke, they don't derive any life benefit from it - all it does is kills them early.

Can't they just take up sodding vaping instead?! (Only half joking here)

The smell of cigarettes really is vile - its as bad as having to sit near someone with really bad BO.

'Expat we had the BBQ thread yesterday grin'

Aw, man! I missed it. There'll be another in 5 minutes. And then a DIY one.