Smoking outside in populated public places.

[Readytoevolve]

It was a beautiful day as I sat outside my local coffee shop with my 2 children, drinking smoothies and soaking up the sunshine.
Then BOOM, the table next to us lights up a cigarette and it blows our way.

The day before we were lining the streets for a tractor run…. We had a front view and the kids are at the front. Then BOOM, a man behind us lights up just as it’s beginning and is breathing the smoke down on us.

Why oh why is smoking allowed outside, and not just in designated smoking areas, where they can all sit and smoke together. It happens us all the time.

Yes they’re entitled to do it, but is it right? Hell no.

AIBU?

I can’t bear to sit next to hen parties in restaurants, people going home on the tube sweaty after the gym or people who sniff instead of blowing their nose, but I don’t want to exclude them from society. Because that’s not what a society is.

Ya know, it just proves OP's point on here, smokers think they're entitled to smoke wherever they bloody like with f all consideration of other people's feelings and the replies on here show this.
Why should I effin go inside because some selfish arsehole has plonked themselves down next to us on a park bench and lit up a fag?
And it's their choice to smoke so on them if they have to sit in the hail, rain or snow.
Also 'aggy'?? 🤡🤡🤣🤣

Yeah, none of that's detrimental to health though, is it?

They think they’re entitled to smoke outdoors because they are.

You don’t have to go inside if you don’t want to. You’re free to sit outside with the smokers if you want.

Well not to be picky but technically smokers can smoke where they like if its not somewhere where smoking is prohibited. So it's not about thinking they're entitled, they are entitled to do so if they so choose!

Some will be more considerate than others but I can guarantee that being passive aggressive or just plain aggressive towards them won't work. That just gets peoples backs up.

So move yourself then? Take some responsibility for yourself instead of being entitled to change others’ behaviour.

OP I do agree but I do have a secret weird vice 🙈 I am not a smoker and have never even tried one… but my gosh I love the smell of proper cigarettes! I can’t decide whether it’s nostalgia as it reminds me of when I used to go out and could smell it ….. so I’m that odd person who tries to stand near the smokers 🤣🤣🤣

People already do that, doesn’t mean they can’t be annoyed by it.

It is often said on here and in real life that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

Yes, people can smoke, but doesn’t mean they should do it where it is a detriment to others.

I think banishing smokers from society is not really what I was getting at….
but when in a populated outdoor space such as events, pedestrianised streets that are always busy, outdoor food and drink places, entrance doors, smokers could either have an area that doesn’t impact others, or just wait to have a cigarette when there are no non smokers and in particular children around. There is lots of space outside, in fact the options are endless.

It’s not that much to ask.

But if this thread has thought me anything, is that a certain segment of society think they are entitled to blow their smoke on others and at children because it’s not illegal. It doesn’t matter that it’s immoral, once it’s legal who cares about how you impact others. Entitlement at its finest.

To the PP who said smokers don’t smell, they really do. It can linger for hours on their breath and clothes hours after a single cigarette. So, I am sorry to burst your bubble on that.

However, given there are so many inconsiderate people out there who don’t care, a law should be implemented to the tune of what Australia has. It’s the only way to encourage respect if it’s not forthcoming otherwise.

I hope this thread has at least enlightened some smokers, cause maybe they just didn’t know.

I so rarely see someone smoking a cigarette now that I'm really surprised when I see it happening.

I only know two people who smoke cigarettes (neither are especially heavy smokers and are very careful to stand away from everyone else and direct the smoke away from people ) but I agree it stinks and you can smell it on them. People should not be doing it around others, especially near children and in crowded places.

I find vapes worse, but only because I see them so much more often and there are these huge clouds of vapour that follow them and they make no effort to stand away/be discreet. They also seem to use them constantly. I know that there is not the same health risk here as second hand smoke, but in my experience smokers are few and far between now and they keep away.

Sorry you've had such a crap time with smokers the last few days.

‘Reek’

The line of where it is a detriment to others was already drawn when indoor smoking was banned. To arbitrarily redraw it and frame people who have already made considerable concessions as still being unreasonable is quite ridiculous.

Yes it bloody well is 😂😂😂

Well yes, they are indeed entitled to do just that.

Right. My husband has solved the encounter should you need to ask someone to stop blowing smoke on you and your children…. If you get push back…..

“I could fart in your direction… would it bother you if I did?”

Imagine the faces 😂😂😂😂😂.

@ClaudiaWankleman
"I can’t bear to sit next to hen parties in restaurants, people going home on the tube sweaty after the gym or people who sniff instead of blowing their nose, but I don’t want to exclude them from society. Because that’s not what a society is."

The smell of sweat, sound of a hen party or someone sniffing doesn't cause emphysema, lung cancer, restricted growth of foetuses for pregnant women and a whole host of other issues that smoking does.

OK so look after yourself and shove off? None of those things are caused by you incidentally and briefly sitting near someone smoking.

WTF happened to showing respect to others?

Yes, what did? All of you who hate smokers have got every indoor space the way you wanted. Now you want every space.

They are.

Would be blank, I imagine. That really isn’t the mic drop you think it is.

Has he solved the encounter, really 🤣

"The line of where it is a detriment to others was already drawn when indoor smoking was banned. To arbitrarily redraw it and frame people who have already made considerable concessions as still being unreasonable is quite ridiculous."
@ClaudiaWankleman
Only in the UK.

In Tokyo people don't smoke on the street outdoors. They have shelters that look like fully enclosed bus stops, on the street, which are designated smoking areas that people smoke in. They stick to the rules and those rooms are full of people smoking and the street is not.

So?

Plus that’s not true, you can still smoke in Japanese pubs called Izakaya. Smoking is common in Japan.

I'm cringing so hard.

I think the OP's married Kevin from Motherland 🤦‍♀️

I smoke. I don't smoke in crowded places I always move out of the way. I use smoking areas if available. I would smoke outside a cafe if on my own if there were ashtrays on the tables. I don't stink of it as I'm a teacher and no one at work even knew I smoked for the 1st two years of being there, in fact I get complimented on how nice I smell.