To think smoking should now be banned in public spaces?

[MrsKingfisher]

I saw on the news footage of people Christmas shopping in London and people sitting outside in cafes etc. Given the current situation should public smoking be banned? Not only because it stinks and it's anti social but more people are now meeting outside due to covid. I don't believe there is any evidence that breathing out smoke spreads the virus anymore than normal breathing. It's just selfish, non smokers no longer can be told 'if you don't like it go inside'

Cherry education on the risks of smoking is effective and has brought it down significantly. Nowadays 70% of young adults (16-25yrs) have never started smoking. That's a huge improvement compared to the 1970's.

Most young adults take up vaping (weirdly, as it was designed as a tool to wean smokers off cigarettes).

I think most of the benefit has been achieved with the ban in pubs etc. I would like more focus and resources on stopping smoking of illegal substances. A regime of drug testing before a provisional driving licence is granted would be a start, to give one example.

SmileyClare It is - which is why there should be more of it. At time of delivery 10.6% of mothers still smoke. More than 1:10 prepared to risk their baby's life is not good. Seven % of 15 year olds are regular smokers. Less than ideal.

Oh what fun..

I don't smoke (I do vape, because I like it.)

Could not give a shit about people smoking outdoors, I can go upwind of them, I can move away from them.

I don't like the smell, but then I also find the smell of strong perfumes, aftershaves, washing powders and fabric conditioners to be often eyewatering and headache inducing.

Im not a big fan of the stench of unwashed human, shitty nappy or farts, but those are also things that I will experience should I go near other members of the species.

Life is full of the things other people do, that we don't like much... but I think if we successfully ban everything anyone else might do that upsets, annoys or gives us a headache, we'd all have to stay indoors, alone, forever more.

Just ban people breathing OP

Think it's going that way anyway

Go somewhere non smoking if it bothers you. There are plenty of them. Honestly at the moment the only nice thing I can do is have a cigarette and a glass of wine outside a nice pub.

I waited outside a shop for my dh recently and I could not get any oxygen anywhere. Bloody smokers puffing away, everytime I moved someone else lit up again.
I haven't really noticed how many people lol smoke I suppose as I don't usually stand outside in the winter.
However a ban is not the right thing, I just wish smokers had designated spaces so people that don't enjoy second hand smoke can stand outside without ending up stinking as well.

Smoking was banned indoors over 13 years ago. Smokers got kicked outside - none smokers were happy. And rightly so. Now none smokers have been kicked outside and they're moaning smokers are outside. This is where you made them go! Can't have it all your own way.

I'm.a non smoker but don't think it could or should be banned outdoors. Rightly so it was indoors.
If people choose to smoke and kill themselves in such an expensive way, then let them, its their choice.

YANBU it’s horrid. When I commute to work (obvs not during covid) I have to zigzag my way across the pavement to avoid all the nasty smoke people are blowing across my path. It’s disgusting and causes cancer, why is it still allowed?? Oh yes, money.

@notfromstepford

Smoking was banned indoors over 13 years ago. Smokers got kicked outside - none smokers were happy. And rightly so. Now none smokers have been kicked outside and they're moaning smokers are outside. This is where you made them go! Can't have it all your own way.

Nailed it. (Non smoker here)

@StCharlotte

If your argument was that it was proven that it does spread Covid, I would totally agree. And I'm a smoker.

But I'm afraid you've used the wrong argument. So sorry, YABU.

I think it has been proven that the smoke can carry the virus particles.

7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/explained-what-you-need-to-know-about-cigarette-smoke-and-the-spread-of-coronavirus-c-1021229

www.healthline.com/health-news/can-secondhand-smoke-transmit-the-novel-coronavirus

Given that we have all this hoo haa with covid, 64,402 deaths this year; and there 78,000 deaths annually in the uk due to smoking, YANBU.

I hate standing in all these covid queues breathing in second hand smoke whilst knowing this fact.

The Australian approach of not allowing smoking within 3m of a public building is fair, I think.

@SomewhereEast

MN: "Smokers are weak minded inadequates" Also MN: "Weehee wine o'clock!"

Quite.

Maybe we should ban people breathing, OP. FFS. (FTR, I've never smoked. I'm just tired of this shit.)

@wimhoffbreather

Omg they’re already outside. Where the f*ck else do you want them to go.

In their own homes so that they can puff away to their hearts’ delight without killing anyone else with their gross carcinogenic second hand smoke 🤷🏻‍♀️

The Australian approach of not allowing smoking within 3m of a public building is fair, I think.

Think its policed?
it rarely is
being asked to move on, aka on the other side of the line or a few steps away is most serious ive heard of or been subject to

I don't think everywhere, but I would be happy if there was a (wide) exclusion area. So not in a seating area with others near by. If you are in the middle of a park fine. I'd also put an exclusion distance round many doorways.

@Whammyyammy

I'm.a non smoker but don't think it could or should be banned outdoors. Rightly so it was indoors. If people choose to smoke and kill themselves in such an expensive way, then let them, its their choice.

Yes all v well but they are also killing others with their second hand smoke outside

I have asthma, passive smoking is a v common attack trigger.

Nope I disagree with you....

And I don’t smoke either

Not RTFT but out of interest, where does it end?
Does it end with smokers?
Let's say we ban smoking in public places. That doesn't protect the vulnerable people living indoors with the smokers. The children, the elderly, the disabled. So we ban it indoors too? In peoples private homes? So we are left with a society that controls smoking everywhere except for in private outdoor space. Except the smell may waft over the fence, so we ban it within a 5 mile vicinity of other properties? Is that doable?
Oh wait. . . That doesn't take into account the people who may be walking past your boundary so if you choose to exercise your right to smoke, you can only smoke in private grounds where people walking outside your property cannot smell it? Maybe private residences where there are no neighbours or public footpaths/bridal paths for at least 100 metres from your grounds?
And if we successfully get these laws brought in, what do smokers do? Give up? If only they found it that easy, I'm sure they would have given up already.
And what next?
Will everyone be happy then? Or will we find something else intolerable?

Yep totally agree OP - had to stand in a queue outside to get in a shop the other day and the person in front of me was smoking- it stunk. Not sure why smokers' rights trump non smokers?! Or at least they could have dedicated areas.

What about the freedom of others not to breathe in smoke, and not to get the smell on their clothes and in their hair?

They can get behind me in the queue of people not wanting to breath in strong perfumes, body odour, not watning to listen to loud telephone conversations or people playing loud games, not wanting to be the person on the street responsible for dodging the phone zombies and a whole load of others with other perfectly legal but really bloody irritating things on their 'let's just ban it' wish list.

You really don't always get what you want. The trick of having a happy life is not to sweat the things, and people, you can't control!

Smokers are the anti social one? The ones who meekly buggered off outside in all weathers? The ones who are now being asked to fuck further off because something bigger and nastier took the warm inside spaces away?

You might want to check the dictionary... and your entitlement!

@Fishfingersandwichplease

Yep totally agree OP - had to stand in a queue outside to get in a shop the other day and the person in front of me was smoking- it stunk. Not sure why smokers' rights trump non smokers?! Or at least they could have dedicated areas.

This is where I get confused though. Where would you suggest is a good location for smokers to smoke, where it doesnt affect anyone else? Surely if there is a designated space for smokers, people have to walk past that space and still inhale that second hand smoke?

@MrsKingfisher

Ah yes, the if you don't like it move somewhere else non argument. Smokers are the antisocial ones not those who want to enjoy outside space without being subjected to your filthy second hand smoke. I said I'd like it banned because due to covid more people are moving outside to see others, non smokers no longer have much choice, but hey you selfish fuckers light up another and blow it all over us, we'll just sit and accept it or even better why don't we all just stay at home and allow you to pollute our outdoor spaces. How about you recalibrate your moral compass and understand that non smokers choose to not smoke and we really don't want to breathe in your crap.

I'm so glad I'm in an area where we're actually still allowed to drink inside, now I can go outside and have a cigarette in peace without wingeing tossers like you. Not that anyone here moans about it anyway 🙄

I get what you mean OP. It's not something I've noticed any more or less than normal but I don't think it's fair to say 'well we have had to move before and now we have to move again so that non-smokers are happy'. Lots of the other things mentioned here as 'well, what about...' equivalents don't actually affect anyone else's health. Smoking and second hand smoke harms us non-smokers personally. It's nobody's fault that we also now have to be in outside spaces more but I think there should still be a separate smoke free area available otherwise some people, like those with breathing difficulties (my best friend has severe asthma and it really affects her) won't be able to go anywhere. Smokers can do what they want when it's only affecting them, which is why outside was originally a great idea, but people who don't like it or struggle to breathe around it shouldn't be practically forced to stay away from places just because smokers choose to do it and they have to be outside as well now.