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'

@RB68 Absolutely no one is following tier guidance round here! Wish the buggers would disappear back to their own houses, my streets never been so busy

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.

@Nottherealslimshady you realise smoke doesn’t stay confined to the smoking shelter though right? It travels in the air, same with the smell. Though I do think in pubs and cafes there should be a smoking shelter far enough away from other customers that they’re not actively having smoke blown in their face

It's just selfish

Of course it is. Everything is. The most overused word of 2020.

Smoking is stupid. It makes you look 50 when you're 30, makes your breath stink and is expensive - quite apart from the health issues. But people smoking outside doesn't affect me so I don't care. And I actually prefer the smell of cigarettes to those ghastly vape things. Now those I would cheerfully ban.

@MrsKingfisher go have a fag love, calm yourself a bit

No I don't think it should be banned outdoors. I think smokers should be more considerate and stand away from the doorway outside pubs and cafes etc but there are enough rules and restrictions even without covid. I think there would be some unrest if the government tried to implement this. People seem to think that most people will follow rules etc but I personally think that reaches a limit for most people!!!!

Meh, I’m past caring what rules they bring in. I haven’t missed pubs, cafes etc through all this. I have a good coffee machine and a nice selection of alcohol at home. I have a nice private garden and an indoor room to smoke in. I don’t need to go out and put up with the passive aggressive coughing and waving of arms when I light up. I buy all my cigarettes abroad (£3 a pack versus £10+ here) and that’s where I spend my money eating out etc. If this country wants to ostracise smokers and charge them a fortune in tax, then I’ll just go to places that don’t. It really doesn’t bother me.

but hey you selfish fuckers light up another and blow it all over us, we'll just sit and accept it

You do that 😉

I dont smoke - YABU. Let people have their pleasures in life, especially right now. Its been a tough year

I think you should be grateful for the massive inroads that have already been made into restricting smokers and I expect it will die out completely over the next generation.

I hate the smell of smoke but can quite happily live with the current situation. I am far more irritated by people like you TBH who think their wants are far more important than everyone else's and then post ad nauseum about how they demand the rest of society should bend to their will. You are not the centre of the universe.

This is so pathetic.
I'm quite enjoying reading the OP's increasingly angry posts, they're ludicrous.

OP do you seriously think you're breathing clean air when there are no smokers around?

What transport do you use?

I've never smoked but I think you are being dramatic. Who is going to enforce all these rules? The police can't cope with covid rules, do you think some inoffensive waitress is going to hoik smokers off the pavement?

@OffredOfjune

but hey you selfish fuckers light up another and blow it all over us, we'll just sit and accept it

You do that 😉

Not a smoker.

I think ironically, seeing how far smoke goes, is a useful reminder of how far covid particals spread. Same with warm breath in very cold air. Or when you smell perfume when someone passes you (or equally a stinky smoker).

So my feeling is that if you are complaining about smokers being outdoors and it putting your health at risk because you might breath it in whilst also saying you are outdoors because of trying to avoid covid and its safer outdoors because there is less risk because the particals disperse, you might have a touch of cognitive dissonance going on. Especially if you are close to a busy main road.

I don't like smoking. I also don't think it would be helpful to ban it right now (nor possibly ever).

@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.

Recalibrate your moral compass?

Grip needed.

Yes, smoking is vulgar.

I don't really have strong feelings on this either way. I feel like if you go somewhere that there is a strong possibility someone might smoke then you are making a choice to go there and should suck it up. Its like going to a pub and complaining there are drunk people being loud and obnoxious. Going to a playground and complaining there are screaming kids.
You know that there may be smokers there when you choose to go so acting put out when you get there seems silly. If restaurants or wherever feel they are losing business because of smokers they can always choose to have a non smoking premises, most that I know of don't so it can't be a major issue that is raised.

I think it should be banned sitting outside bars and cafes, yes. I like to sit outside regardless of Covid, but not when I'm getting a face full of cigarette smoke. It's revolting.

I don't think banning it in all public spaces is feasible yet in the UK, though will probably come in time.

I would love for it to be something people can only do in their own homes

Why stop there? After all someone else may want to buy/rent that house one day, and in the meantime someone might smell the smoke drifting from an open window

Even as a non-smoker I believe it's all getting a bit silly now; I realise some get off on restrictions, but surely there are enough without creating any more

YABU, and RedToothBrush has put the reasons why more politely than I could.

I am a non-smoker but each to their own. I’d rather pedestrianise the areas with outdoor seating so we don’t all have to breathe traffic fumes, and get rid of the fried food shops, they absolutely stink. I don’t expect any of that to happen, or ask for it, because we must all make allowances for each other.

I don't smoke. But I'd much rather be amongst them than anywhere near people like you, who want to suck every last pleasure others have out of life.

[quote JustLikeStitch]@Nottherealslimshady you realise smoke doesn’t stay confined to the smoking shelter though right? It travels in the air, same with the smell. Though I do think in pubs and cafes there should be a smoking shelter far enough away from other customers that they’re not actively having smoke blown in their face[/quote]
I mean those actual glass boxes like airports have inside where it's an enclosed ventilated room but you cant smell it as you go by.

Yes down with this sort of thing and cars too - I don’t like breathing their fumes - can everyone stop driving please!

No banning smoking in public would be ridiculous, and impossible to enforce.

Most places I saw with outdoor seating areas had created smoking/non smoking areas.