To be fed up of some smokers' inconsiderate behaviour

[Wantcleanair]

Why do some insist on smoking right outside the doorway of supermarkets, restaurants etc. so that you have no way of avoiding walking through the disgusting second hand smoke when walking past them? Our local supermarket has a designated smoking area away from the doorway but it appears only the staff use it. Are people so desperate for a cigarette that they cannot walk a few metres to keep entrance and exit ways clear?

My mum smokes and smoked through her pregnancy with me and not my brother, as he was born after an education campaign. So, as a child who had her entire gestation with a mother inhaling 20 worth of cigarettes a day, i can say i am here and normal.

I’d be interested to know how your birthweight compared with that of your brother.

Totally agree, it's disgusting. The worst is when they see me walk my toddler past and don't seem bothered at all.

The absolute worst is when they loiter outside the hospital entrance!

@KimberleyClark my mum smoked through three pregnancies and until we were all adults.

Two of the three of us had low birth weights. One was average but I suspect would have been a big baby if she hadn't smoked as she grew to be a big toddler/young child.

It was horrible growing up with a smoking parent. She would smoke in the car which was awful. Our clothes and house would smell and every activity we did was interrupted by her needing a fag break.

It's such a horrible habit.

It was horrible growing up with a smoking parent. She would smoke in the car which was awful. Our clothes and house would smell and every activity we did was interrupted by her needing a fag break.

My DH's mum smoked heavily throughout her pregnancies and throughout his childhood. When he was old enough to have pocket money, he would save up and buy her things like nicotine patches because he was scared of her dying. He started doing this from about age 7, he said. She didn't quit until he was in his late 20s. She vapes now though. I can't imagine continuing to smoke knowing your child is buying you things, crying and begging you to stop doing it. It is really sad. And like you've said, his house would always smell, when I first met him he always smelt of smoke even though he didn't smoke himself, I wouldn't go anywhere in the car with her because of smoking in the car.

Yes I think there are some people around who think what ever they are doing, or perceive to be their “needs”, trumps everyone else.

My Dad used to smoke on the car and complain about being asked to open the windows as it would “let the air con out”. Luckily my Mum would insist!

I am an ex smoker but when I did smoke, I never smoked in public places like outside supermarkets/bus stops and the like.

Smoking outside hospitals is incredibly selfish, I can't believe people still do it!

That said, a whiff of smoke on the way into shops doesn't bother me. However it is rude. People wait for taxi's etc outside shops and shouldn't be forced to breath it in.

I agree. DD1 started reception last week and there are parents smoking outside the school gate, which is gross.

i think there are only about three non smokers where I work. If they’re not smoking they’re vaping. Including three pregnant women.
Extra breaks every half hour too.
Revolting habit.

Medical staff must dispair when they treat a patient for lung/ heart issues, hook them up with oxygen and see them wheeling the canister outside and start puffing away.

If you were addicted to alcohol to the point you had to have a tot of whisky once an hour, no employer would indulge this addiction!

Thanks for sharing. My mum smoked in pregnancy. I was small. And DB was just about average.

YANBU

I go to the centre of town once a week for the market earliest I can because when it’s busy it’s usually full of smokers smoking outside of doorways and the bars and cafes allow smokers to sit outside and smoke which means the street the market is on is just full of cigarette smoke. There’s no few seconds of smoke as you head down, it’s cloud after cloud. I often think smokers just assume the smoke goes straight up in the air when it doesn’t.

I really really dislike smoking. But it doesn't impair you in the same way as drinking, so I don't think that's a reasonable comparison.

I think that as a society, we're far to hesitant to acknowledge smoking as a serious addiction. Ultimately, it's this addiction and the permanent brain changes caused by smoking that is driving these behaviours.

@enchantedsquirrelwood

Out of control dogs, cars on pavements, people dawdling along staring at their phones, playing loud music etc are far higher up the scale for me!

Yes all of above are antisocial but my OP was about smoking right in the doorways of public buildings where people have no choice other than to walk through the vile smoke. Your list tends not to be located at the entrances to hospitals etc. and some are easy to avoid.

I think it’s time we banned smoking in all outdoor spaces of pubs and restaurants.

it really triggers my asthma too, I have to constantly hold my breath going down local high street. Every bus stop, every coffee shop, outside supermarkets it’s impossible to avoid. It’s not like I have asthma attack take inhalers job done in 5min. I feel breathless for rest of day. GP says nothing more can do, it’s sever reaction and I’m on right meds. Can never eat outside or go pub garden it’s so restrictive.

Yep. My new upstairs neighbours smokes outside her entrance door on our shared drive. Even with my windows closed, the smell permeates the brickwork and I can smell it in my lounge. My home office is in my lounge (I'm fully remote) and it drives me nuts.

You wanted smoke-free restaurants and bars and you got it. Can't have it all ways, I'm afraid.

I'd like to see eating disgusting fatty food in public banned, on the basis that it stinks, but I recognise that it is the right of the individual to slowly kill themselves if that's what they choose to do.

The UK has such a weird attitude to smoking verus other bad habits.

I disagree with they are easy to avoid.

I have to say I very rarely see anyone smoking at all, and think vape is much worse. But neither have a significant impact on my week, whereas all the other things do.

Since smoking was banned indoors, life has been much more pleasant, and outside smoking doesn't bother me. Because it is outside. If people were blocking the entrances to supermarkets because they were smoking, I'd be more bothered by the fact they are in the way. In fact just coming back to edit this and say chuggers are more annoying and harassing.

@AllesAusLiebe

The UK has such a weird attitude to smoking verus other bad habits.

Some countries have banned smoking in all public areas including beaches. I don't think the UK attitude is weird at all. People can do as they please but I don't agree with inflicting their choice on other people. So you think smoking alongside people who are eating is OK?

Fatty food is not a reasonable comparison. Sure, both might smell offensive to others, but dietary fat isn’t poisonous in the same way smoking is. It’s only a problem if the balance of energy needs+exercise+overall nutrition is off. Smoking provides no useful function. Fatty food is still food and we all have to eat to live. Smoking is all poison for no benefit. I don’t understand why anyway smokes anymore when we all know it gives you cancer, messes up your ability to heal, ruins your skin and teeth and costs of fortune for the privilege.

Fatty food is not a reasonable comparison.

Yeah that made me chuckle too. As if it's even on the same level.

Yep I also had a good laugh at this excuse to justify smoking in public 😂. I think the phrase, "clutching at straws" springs to mind.