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'

[quote ShalomToYouJackie]@Flvq you said "I'm fat, should my eating be policed? What about alcohol?".

I'm sure you can see why I assumed that you meant you drank alcohol and whether that should be policed, apologies for the assumption. In any case, someone else's food consumption and alcohol intake doesn't affect the health of those around them so it's
it's different to second hand smoke. [/quote]
I didn’t say why I was fat and I didn’t say I drank alcohol.

@FatGirlShrinking

There is some irony here which I find amusing.

Smokers in your view OP are selfish, but only in the sense that they are now sitting in the space that you want to be in and spoiling your enjoyment.

It wasn't selfish when they were sitting in the rain and cold because it's the only place they were allowed to sit while you were inside in the warm and dry.

And yes THAT!!

Only on MN do people get told 'you sound unhinged' 🙄

If you choose to sit outside amongst others and light up although no one else in your vicinity is yes you're selfish.

Why not ban cars, they cause smoke too?

Only on MN do people get told 'you sound unhinged' 🙄

That's because loads of people on here sound exactly that
thayZ

Read yourself back! You have been piling on the hyperbole, the emotionally charged words, the sense of self righteousness. The total lack of empathy! The utter certainty in your own correctness.

What word/s would you prefer?

Dictatorial
Self-absorbed
Totalitarian
Risible

I've long thought that it should be banned in hospitality venues, including outdoor seating areas.

People who smoke choose to smoke and make an active decision that they want to breathe all that in, the rest of us didn't.

I wouldn't ban it in all public places though. That's the sledgehammer approach.

Same as smokers are unhinged.

It’ll never be banned in outdoor public spaces, especially not when they can’t even clamp down public drinking and intoxication.

I didn’t say why I was fat and I didn’t say I drank alcohol

No but you asked if eating and alcohol should be policed which I answered. I have already apologised for assuming you meant in regards to yourself.

I think if you’re not allowed to drink somewhere you should not be allowed to smoke there. I am an ex smoker and used to love street drinking - found it very unfair as I think smoking is equally as antisocial as drinking!

@vodkaredbullgirl Sweeping generalisation there eh?

I'm a non-smoker, and I think YABVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVU.

Quite enough has been "banned" by Saint Boris's dictatorship, most of it on knee-jerk reactions and false pretences. Think banning kids from playgrounds....

@vodkaredbullgirl

Same as smokers are unhinged.

Oooh! Touche... says a poster with a username that suggests a different addiction....

I smoke and i'm unhinged lol

I hate the smell of smoke but I'm fed up with things being banned now.

@vodkaredbullgirl

I smoke and i'm unhinged lol

Ah! Missing the tone there, apologies

Or maybe not...

People have a right to clean, unpolluted air, more than people have a right to inflict 2nd hand smoke and its carcinogens on others.

It's a very fine line between being subjected to smoke inside a pub or cafe , on transport and in cinemas etc, compared to sitting outside, possibly under an awning or gazebo.

It comes down to managing it.

In practice, pubs and cafes out to designate an outside space for smokers and non smokers.

lol think i missed it too Curious, sorry.

I think anything where people take a big breath into their lungs then puff it out is probably quite effective at spreading the virus.

@MrsKingfisher

My reasoning is more people are now sitting outside due to covid whereas before they could sit inside to avoid those who choose to smoke, it also stinks and I maintain that those who take the stance of 'it's a free country I can smoke outside' without any care for those around them who may not be smokers are selfish. Go home and smoke! It's not a vice it's a disgusting habit that doesn't just affect the smoker.

The same can be said for drinking, should that be banned? Plastic packaging and disposable products are damaging and littering every space imaginable should they be banned?

The selfish thing is trying to strip away free will and demanding everyone else follow your arbitrary rules.

You're outside, you can choose to move upwind of a smoker, find another cafe or chose a takeaway option and sit somewhere else.

Agree to some extent. I don’t want to breathe in cigarette smoke when I am queuing outside a shop or waiting for a bus. Smokers don’t understand how horrible this is for non smokers.