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AIBU?

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Original poster

Smoking outside cafés?

496 replies

PuntCuffin · 23/04/2017 19:37

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.

OP posts:
LilacSpatula · 23/04/2017 22:17

Punkrockergirl lol

fluffandsnuff · 23/04/2017 22:19

It's horrible. I'm visibly pregnant and people still think it's ok to light up right next to me. I may be being stupid, but I reckon if I can smell it I'm probably inhaling it. I normally move tables if there are any spare but wish I had the guts to tell people how selfish they are being.

5OBalesofHay · 23/04/2017 22:24

OP are you allowed to take your dog in a company car?Shock That is truly shocking. Do they not give them to that people or sell them or something?

5OBalesofHay · 23/04/2017 22:25

Other not that

PhyllisNights · 23/04/2017 22:27

fluffandsnuff, amen sister, you and me both! When it happened to me, I got up and huffed and puffed a bit, hopefully the rude smoker heard me. I'm genuinely tempted to wear my baby on board badge off the tube, when I'm out and about at the weekend.

Craiconwithit · 23/04/2017 22:51

Hopefully, smoking will be banned from all public places in the not too distant future. In the meantime, just cough dramatically and wave your hand vigorously in front of your face when a smoker stands nearby.

Fluffyears · 23/04/2017 22:52

Why do people always bring cat fumes into the argument? Car fumes are different and not exactly being blown in your direction? Smokers don't seem to realise how disgusting their habit smells to non-smokers I grew up with two chain smoking parents (80 a day plus between them). Our house stank, clothes stank, I have illnesses related to second hand smoke (chain smoking mother all through pregnancy-thanks mum) is it that hard to realise if you are next to people eating you should try to keep your smoke away. The argument that non-smokers think 'outside belongs to them' it does just as indoors belongs to them because they haven't got a stupid disgusting habit. A bit of consideration is all that's needed I.e my stinking fag smoke is blowing on the people eating, so I'll nip over to the other side of garden/outside eating area so I can stop being a fucking stinking arsehole.

BillyButtfuck · 23/04/2017 23:01

Fluffyears Cat Fumes is the best typo, ever!

gamerchick · 23/04/2017 23:05

because car fumes push your carbon monoxide levels up to really unhealthy levels. All those babies being pushed around at exhaust height getting a blast in the face.

But see someone smoking a fag 50 yards away and people collapse with asthma at the mere sight with horrified expressions on their faces.

mumofthemonsters808 · 23/04/2017 23:07

I wouldn't be able to handle it, I've been cigarette free for five long, hard weeks but couldn't trust myself to not grab one out of their packet or ask them to waft it in my face.i don't think I'll ever trust myself to sit amongst smokers again, the temptations to join them is far too much for me to handle. No seriously, I've only ever smoked when there were ashtrays on the table and if people were eating I'd pop around the corner.

BoneyBackJefferson · 23/04/2017 23:09

PunkrockerGirl
The smokers, however who've been outside all throughout the winter months minding their own business, now have to put up with the whining twats who think that now that the weather's better the outside space belongs to them and that it should be smoke free.

I have always loved the irony of this type of response as It was exactly the same when smokers could smoke inside.

Non-smokers outside in the winter to get away from the smoke then first sign of good weather, out the twats smokers came.

JassyRadlett · 23/04/2017 23:10

I don't agree with smoking in doorways it isn't fair to non smokers, but outside at a cafe why not?

Because others find the smell really unpleasant and it can spoil their appetites and their meals, and because eating outside in nice weather isn't an unreasonable desire for lots of people, smokers or not?

That's really the issue here, not relative CO and NOx levels. It's considerate of others, vs not.

Other countries ban smoking anywhere food is served. I hope we follow their lead.

Lepetitmarsellais · 23/04/2017 23:14

Far worse sitting near a dog than a smoker.

OP why don't you just rehome the dog and then you can sit inside in the future.

gamerchick · 23/04/2017 23:20

Heh I remember the last dog that sat and watched me eat. It sat staring with long strings of slavva like shoelaces hanging from its mouth. Now that puts you off your dinner.

gillybeanz · 23/04/2017 23:20

It's consideration for others exactly.

If I'm sat outside having a brew and a fag, the last thing I want is a woman with precious snowflakes and their stinky dog to come tutting and whinging round me.
Dogs bloody stink and alot drool, they're disgusting. We put up with them though, the same as people should put up with smokers outside.

Lepetitmarsellais · 23/04/2017 23:21

I'd be in full support of a dog ban in eating establishments actually.

PhyllisNights · 23/04/2017 23:30

My mother's dog goes into her local pub. The dog does absolutely nothing to bother anyone, except to welcome attention from passers by. The smell of the smokers when I'm situated next to a door is far worse than what a dog could inflict on anybody in a public space.

5OBalesofHay · 23/04/2017 23:34

Isn't it against good hygiene rules to have dogs near people's food?

Krimbler · 23/04/2017 23:43

It is for this reason I am no longer able to eat al fresco in public.

😂

It's an outrage Hyacinth!

SpreadYourHappiness · 23/04/2017 23:44

I'm not a dog fan at all, really don't like them, and I do think they should be banned from eating establishments.

That said, however, they do not cause harm to people's health like smoking does, and are therefore incomparable.

WankingMonkey · 23/04/2017 23:46

Yeah if I am being honest..I wouldn't be impressed eating somewhere and a family sitting at the next table bringing their dog to the restaurant either tbh.

5 of the 6 tables had dogs with them you say? Was this really a normal cafe or was it a coffee shop adjoined to a vets or something?

Original poster
PuntCuffin · 23/04/2017 23:48

why don't you just rehome the dog and then you can sit inside in the future

That would be a mature and rational response Hmm

If you really want to make it about the dog, I don't take her inside somewhere food is served. Most places won't let them in, and haven't done for way longer than smoking being banned, even if it is perfectly legal to let dogs in.

As with smokers, most dog owners are reasonable people. I had the misfortune to meet some inconsiderate smokers today. Whereas all the dogs were sitting quietly under tables, out of the way, being appropriately supervised by their owners.

OP posts:
Zoflorabore · 23/04/2017 23:52

Op ask if the park cafe can be exclusively for dogs, not even people, maybe even dogs who smokeGrin

I come from a family of none smokers, not even one, and I smoke.
I've even been told more than once "you don't look like a smoker "Hmm

So as much as I can, I'm considerate when smoking outdoors, I don't smoke in my home, I smoke outside whatever the weather.
I'm not a dog lover so don't have a dog but the last time I was eating outdoors a dog from a nearby table pissed all over my feet.

I should have started a thread about it....

RedStripeIassie · 23/04/2017 23:52

I'm not a smoker but I don't get the hated directed towards smokers on these threads. It has happened once in real life too.
We were in a 'posh pub' garden and a woman asked my smoking dh to move as she and her kids was still eating Shock!!

I couldn't believe it and he almost Kicked off but did move down a bit. I'd never say that to a smoker outside. If you don't like it you can eat inside.

Original poster
PuntCuffin · 23/04/2017 23:54

5 of the 6 tables had dogs with them you say? Was this really a normal cafe or was it a coffee shop adjoined to a vets or something?

It was in a country park, footpaths and trails round a central lake area, playpark for kids etc. It was a perfectly normal café. Large inside seating area, 25-30 tables at a guess, small fenced area immediately outside with approx. 6 tables with menus etc, so part of café. Outside of fenced area, benches and picnic tables for other visitors.

OP posts: