smokers out in street

[friendly]

I live quite near a pub. Until recently this wasn't much of a problem. Since the change the smoking ban though it has been. Although the pub has a garden out the back people tend to go out the front to smoke. We sleep at the front of the house and the noise really carries.

I have found out they have a licence till 12.30am during the week and 1.30am Friday, Sat and Sunday. The noise isn't really raucous but it's fairly constant. Laughing, loud talking. At 12.30am when you're up early the next day its not funny. I am planning to go and talk to the landlord in a friendly way but I don't really know what to say. I don't know him and I'm a bit nervous I suppose. Does anyone have any advice please?

should have left the smokers indoors, and sent the non smokers into the street

But it shouldn't be a problem, smoking ban or no smoking ban. Why is it so hard for people to be considerate? There is a pub garden at the back. What is wrong with using that? And the landlord is perfectly within his rights to ask them to move after a certain time at night. And as a good neighbour he should be prepared to do so.

would you not still be able to hear them in the beer garden?

surely this is about noise, not smoking. either the noise levels are unreasonable (in which case pursue it with the landlord and/or the council) or theyre not in which case this isnt much you can do except get double glazing and keep the windows shut.

i expect the landlord will be more approachable than you fear though - remember they dont want any trouble because they have to keep their license.

Message withdrawn

I dont think the smoking ban is unreasonable.In fact it should be banned full stop.

If it was only the health of the smokers that was affected by smoking then I would not have a problem.But passive smoking kills and that REALLY pisses me off.

I dont want to breathe any smoke in when I have made a choice never to smoke myself.

I went to hospital today I had to walk through a group of smokers on way in.Half of them were in patients. I was coughing all the way in.

Very true chocolatepeanut - and it stinks bloody awful too. I agree that 12.30 is late - for those of us who have to get up and do a days work at any rate.

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Hmm... this any use (haven't looked at it properly though, sorry)
www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/law/yourrights/noise

You could always complain to the council - their late licese will have to come up for renewal at some point.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a bit of quiet after midnight in a residential street. The smokers have an alternative (the back garden) so what's the problem?

If you'd bought the house after the new licensing laws came into place, and after the smoking ban was introduced then i think you would be being unreasonable, but the law has changed and people need to be flexible.

If they have have been granted a late license there will be conditions to that and excessive noise of any kind at 12.30 is unacceptable and I am afraid that is a fact recognised by the law.When granting the license the council will not have considered the noise created by those smokers migrating outside so I would raise this with them.

I take your point Motherfunk but we have to accept that the majority of people operate within 'normal' hours. Children go to bed early and this has to be considered.

My neighbour works nights and I always consider this and try not to disturb him so give and take is possible.

But in this case the only reason the people are creating a disturbance is because they smoke and can no longer smoke inside.

For me smoking is a lifestyle choise that affects other people on so many levels this one being one of the minor ones. Thats why it should banned full stop.

what i dont understand is why a pub in a residential area was granted a late licence in the first place? its a pub, surely they must get drunks shouting? taxis pulling up?

(or is that just round these parts?)

talk to the landlord and if no luck ring the council.

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Because its a lifestyle choice that has devastating effects on other people,Passive smoking kills.End of.

do you drive a car or use the bus? i'm sure the second hand smoke out of those vehicles is hardly healthy. should we ban them too?

I smoke. I don't drive.

When I take ds to work with me in the mornings, and the traffic is banked up, the air is thick with petrol fume. It's choking.

I agree.Pollution from cars is vile and somethings needs to be done to make fuel safer/cleaner.There are too many cars on the roads too.

But to compare it to smoking? Come on.It will seriously damage your health and others,even kill and you do it all in the name of. what is it? Pleasure??!

Parp.

"But to compare it to smoking? Come on.It will seriously damage your health and others,even kill and you do it all in the name of. what is it? Pleasure??! "

and people drive and fly all in the name of convenience.
so in your opinion killing others for pleasure, wrong.
killing others so you can go shopping in new york/two weeks in the costa del sol/ so you don't have to walk to work, a necessary evil.

Does pollution cost the health service millions every year?

No.

I cant expect a smoker to agree with me! You smokers will do anything to justify it.

I will step out

Message withdrawn

and don't forget you could choke on a chocolate peanut......(sorry tis a joke)