Smoking outside cafés?

[PuntCuffin]

Took my boys out to a local country park this morning. Decided we would have lunch while we were there so got ourselves settled at an outside table at the park café. We had our dog with us (as did many other families) so could not have gone inside.

Halfway through our meal, another family sat at the neighbouring table and both adults proceeded to light up cigarettes. So, we ended up with smoke wafting across us. Both boys stopped eating pretty much immediately, and started saying they felt sick. (Yes, they are probably hypersensitive but, it was pretty grim.) I gave up on trying to convince them to finish their lunch and we left the area, as did another family who hadn't finished their meals either.

There were no ashtrays on the tables, so the café clearly don't endorse smoking there.

AIBU to think this is a) Fucking inconsiderate behaviour and b) to be amazed that it is legal to smoke round an area where people are eating, even if it is outside.

MummaMinnie:

You were there first

I'm not a child. If someone else is behaving in a legally permitted way and it isn't utterly bizarre, disturbing behaviour (I don't even know what!) I would just grow up and deal with it. I don't own the whole space just because I arrived before another customer.

I see we've descended to name calling and entitlement, good good!

This thread has surpassed all of my expectations love a good smoking/dog bunfight.

Ah if someone lights up next to me whilst I am eating, I just do a very loud and very breezy "excuse me do you mind awfully waiting until I have finished eating, that would be SO kind of you".

It generally shames them into moving

This thread was actually becoming more lighthearted until spread came back with her egotism and personal insults.

Yep but there's always one...
.strangely never a smoker, they don't rile as easily, fancy that

That, Gowgirl, or maybe it's they just don't live as long.

Nah it's because they have no pleasures in life so get a bit on the growly side while looking down their noses.

I stopped smoking but still hang out with them on nights out. Much better conversation

Tell the cafe owner that it puts you off going if there is a risk of smoke wafting in your face. This may get them to put up no smoking signs on the tables.

That and you can sniff the fumes gamer

It's a disgusting habit and should be banned in all public places.

I like the smell of a light waft of cigarette smoke on a warm breeze. It smells like fun nights past in the high summer. Never smoked a fag in my life!

^You were there first confused

I'm not a child. If someone else is behaving in a legally permitted way and it isn't utterly bizarre, disturbing behaviour (I don't even know what!) I would just grow up and deal with it. I don't own the whole space just because I arrived before another customer.^

The reason I keep harping on about being there first is because if someone then arrives afterward and intends to smoke in close vicinity, it is courteous to at least ask if it would offend. Especially if it is clear that no-one else is smoking and the other people are eating.

You aren't being unreasonable at all. Those people sound horrible. I hope you're nice day out with your children and dog wasn't ruined too much.

Your not you're - sorry fat fingers typing on phone.

And off we go again.....

So they can't smoke inside. They shouldn't smoke outside. What do you suggest, putting all smokers in to a rocket and sending them to Space?

Both boys stopped eating pretty much immediately, and started saying they felt sick

Oh do give over.

So they can't smoke inside. They shouldn't smoke outside. What do you suggest, putting all smokers in to a rocket and sending them to Space

Whilst tempting I would far prefer a ban on smoking in all public places full stop. If people want to smoke let them do so in their own home where it won't affect other people

We need stricter laws in public spaces, regardless of them being outside or not. Non-smokers do not want to accidentally inhale second hand smoke when they've taken a mouthful of food or sipped their drink.

Her sons reactions to the smoking is not unusual in the society that children have grown up in today.

Whilst tempting I would far prefer a ban on smoking in all public places full stop

I'm not a smoker, never have been, but I think to do the above would be very unkind. Smokers are addicted. Can we really expect that they have to be housebound? If people smoke outside, it blows away. It's really no big deal.

It's really no big deal

Smoke only blows away if there is any breeze. It's grim walking along a pavement and following someone waving a fag about.

Quite often if you are just unlucky in your positioning and someone is smoking at a nearby table while you are eating it will just waft in a continuous stream towards your nose and mouth and you can't dodge it. This is especially true if it's a very still day with no breeze. It really is awful and totally off-putting when you are trying to eat. It really ruins the experience of a nice meal in the sunshine for me.

I can't believe how many smokers still doggedly insist that it's perfectly okay for them to spoil someone else's meal and make them feel really uncomfortable just because there are no signs saying they can't.

All the do gooders out in force it's so disgusting banish them all for God sake get over yourself why should all smokers not be entitled to smoke outside and heaven forbid they light up a cigarette near you even though they are in a smoking area bla bla bla we have rights to such judgemental people on here

get over yourself why should all smokers not be entitled to smoke outside and heaven forbid they light up a cigarette near you even though they are in a smoking area

Why am I as a non-smoker not entitled to not breathe in someone else's repulsive habit?

Not really a do-gooder. I have no issue with people smoking themselves into oblivion. I just don't want them near me or my asthmatic daughter.

Go else where then smokers have to to acommrdate non smokers