AIBU to expect smoking to be banned in London Zoo?

[kilburnqueen]

New year, new annual membership to London Zoo. On our visit during the supposedly quietest week in January it's packed with fellow well-meaning parents and their toddlers (it's free to under-3s). But to my astonishment, people were smoking. Inside the Zoo. At first I thought this must be a mistake, but a member of staff said that it was permitted "so long as it isn't near an animal enclosure". But near kids is clearly ok?? And frankly everywhere inside London Zoo is "near" an animal enclosure! (it's economical with space as you'd expect from a Zoo in Central London) I'm shocked - and grossed out. Who actually still smokes around young children in public these days anyway? Anyone else think it's outrageous that a nationally regarded family friendly institution would still permit it?

I’m surprised. You can’t even smoke on outside train platforms at most stations.

I'm really surprised at that as well

Oh hush.

It's outdoors! You non smokers control all others spaces.

If your raising children in central London or even raised towns you need to be as precious with car fumes too!

I’ve noticed this in London Zoo and I admit I was surprised. Bit scummy.

The last wildlife park I went to had designated and clearly signed smoking areas, which I thought was a good solution - they were away from enclosures, main paths, picnic areas etc. so one could smoke in peace without risk of disturbing non-smokers.

Never noticed it there and I go twice a year. I am surprised as I would have assumed it was no smoking.

The rule is if you look IP and nothing blocks your view of the sky you are welcome to spark up. I know this as was the Health and Safety Manager on the London railway when the rule was imposed. Chill out and spark up!

YABU

I think if it's outdoors, it's fine, especially at a place like a zoo where you are free to move about. I have more of an issue with people smoking at bus stops, places where you can't move away so easily.

People who smoke around children give me the rage

If anyone can source me information that states that people's health suffers from passing people smoking outside, can you link it? Because I think it probably doesn't exist.

Because I think it probably doesn't exist. Of course it doesn't, but don't tell the anti smokers.
Anyway.www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/visitor-information/smoking-policy

Places with animal enclosures, especially those with hay/straw or a lot of wooden structures, are normally really hot on smoking bans anywhere near buildings. Maybe they could designate smoking areas outside, in out-of-the-way places where there can be no harm caused.

Perhaps, (particularly after the recent fire at London Zoo and another at Woburn Safari Park) that they ought to have a change in regulations, just in case.

Big fucking deal. I walk past smokers w/ the kids, mingle w/ smokers at bus stops w/ the kids. Couldn't care less.

Smoking is permitted in the zoo local to me as well. I suppose considering all the places you’re not allowed to smoke anymore (train platforms as previously mentioned) it does seem wrong. I don’t smoke never have I just didn’t think about it before.

I’m surprised... most zoos don’t allow this as a courtesy to the animals. Our local one has s sign up that says ‘our animals hate the smell’.

As an ex-smoker I'm not against all public smoking, but London Zoo isn't a public space, it's a privately run space - it's not Regent's Park. And it's really not very open once you're inside. Outside a pub, on the street, yeah I don't like it, but it's understandable, but you can't smoke in playgrounds, or at the school gate anymore with good reason. And at the weekend the overwhelming majority of visitors were families. There are non-smoking zoos, it's weird that a flagship zoo like London isn't. "I can't make it through this zoo visit without a fag...[wheeze]" "I really find a rollie helps me to ponder the plight of this planet's endangered species..." Man, I do not miss having my life ruled by fags.

I'm surprised it's allowed from a fire risk point of view.

It doesn't seem to be a problem at our school gates! Literally I see people sparking up as they walk out their door and the school is just under a minute walk!! I'm a smoker but why not use the five mins before pick up?