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?

Well no, that's what the garden is for. I hate this "surely they an go 30 mins without a fag" yes I'm sure they can. But not every time a stranger wants them to. Smokers smoke. That's what they do

I know all want to be outside I find a* place

In Australia, smoking is illegal within so many metres (can't remember how many, but it's a high number) of any premises serving food! Why can't we in the UK have that law introduced?
If I'm in a pub garden eating, and someone at the table next to me lights up, I politely (but quite loudly) ask them not to smoke whilst I'm eating....usually works!

I am surprised at how many people would happily expose their children to smoke

My mum smoked throughout her pregnancy with me, both parents smoked pretty heavily (in all areas of the house and the car) until I was 10, when mum gave up - my dad is still smoking at 83 and when I started work it was like working in fog -the office was literally hazy with cigarette smoke. So although I've never smoked I just can't get that worked up about a few wafts of smoke in an outdoors area, although I appreciate others feel differently.

I would direct your concerns towards the extremely worrying amount of pollutants they are breathing in and out on a daily basis

Ah, the good old "Look over there" argument. The fact that pollution exists is never, ever going to be a valid justification for adding to it..

Its like a de ja vu all we need now is a whine about smokers sitting down next to and lighting up after the whiner has sat down and we have it all.

Smokers are there all year round, bugger off inside.

You seriously ask people to stop smoking in a pub garden because you're eating widigin? And they don't tell you to fuck off? Are you one of those people who knows people will just give into your demands for a quiet life?

Am I really in a minority of smokers who would not dare spark up around others that don't smoke? Maybe because my other half and 99% of my friends don't smoke I have become more aware of this?

Before the smoking ban you all moaned because you couldn't go inside. Now you can go inside you all want to be outside. Make your minds up ffs!

Last summer I booked a table at a fancy rooftop restaurant with lovely food as a birthday treat for DH. We were set right next to a couple who chain smoked the entire time we were there and talked at an entirely unnecessary decibel level - it completely ruined what was supposed to be a special meal.

Of course I'd smoking is allowed then people will smoke but it is so unpleasant, particularly when eating. It is a bit like going to listen to an orchestra only to find someone has turned up with a ghetto blaster playing heavy metal - it totally wrecks the experience.

YANBU. Completely disgusting to have people's smoke wafting around their table and food. But you'll have to complain to the cafe that they should make it a non-smoking area if they want to keep your business. People need to vote with their wallets.

And I agree with the poster that said addiction makes you selfish. They can, so they will. And since they've pretty much lost their sense of smell they don't realize/care how hideous it is for others.

maisiejones, is it really so difficult for you to understand that people like to sit indoors in winter when they visit cafes and pubs, but outside in summer?

People did vote with their wallets when the smoking ban came in. Then all the pubs started closing down because business slid down the shitter. Where was the support of all the whiners then when they got their way?

"Of course I'd smoking is allowed then people will smoke but it is so unpleasant, particularly when eating. It is a bit like going to listen to an orchestra only to find someone has turned up with a ghetto blaster playing heavy metal - it totally wrecks the experience."

Not really. The orchestra was indoors.

Heavy metal is banned indoors, so those who want to listen are outside, all year. They don't swop metal for orchestra, even when the weather is nice.

You missed off the rest of the sentence Augusta.... context is everything

YANBU. People who smoke close to others who are eating, are arses.

Well, the poor sods sat out there in the rain and hailstorm all winter

Ah, poor dears. No-one frogmarches them out there, you know.

YANBU, smoking where people are eating is rude even if it is outside.

We were recently sitting outside eating and someone at the next table was smoking, which didn't actually bother me too much, but then someone started vaping and this enormous cloud of sickly smelling vapour floated over us. It was absolutely minging.

Ithink, I missed the rest of the sentence because it was essentially saying the same thing - there are other air pollutants. My point remains valid: the fact that air pollution exists doesn't mean we should ignore something that adds to it.

I'm a non-smoker but I think if you go to a pub/cafe and people are smoking in the garden then it's daft to order food out there and then complain about the smoke.

Stay inside and stop whining.

Trojan

Smokers need to stop being territorial. The outdoor seating is not yours like it or not smoking is not seen as a socially acceptable thing to do. Move out of the way of those ( the majority) who wish to enjoy their social time at pubs/restaurants. Smokers are never ever in the right

...and my point Augusta is the usual annual hoo ha about the possibility of smoke wafting near someone's kids once or twice during the summer while seemingly ignoring the much more worrying level of shit kids are breathing in every day.

And nobody frogmarches the rabid-anti smokers into the garden either.

Bet some of you lot think that someone vaping next to you will give you instant cancer too...

I must be weird, but when I'm out in the evenings (and child free) I love to smell someone having a cigarette outside. I don't like stale smoke, and I haven't smoked for years and years and years, but that outside smell takes me back to when I was young and liked my Silk Cut.....
....so not all non smokers hate it...