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?

Smoking in any space with lots of people is selfish. The effects of smoking are not limited to there smoker, you are choosing to put the effects of smoking onto other. So yes that’s selfish.
I should be able to walk down a high street without ash flying off into my face or having someone walk directly in front of my pram blowing smoke on my child.
By definition smoking is antisocial as it negatively impacts other people. The onus should be on the person carrying out the antisocial behaviour to be the one restricted, not others.
You don’t have to smoke.

This will change. The attitudes to smoking have evolved so much in the last 50 years and the last 15/20 specifically.

Honestly it’s embarrassing that anyone smokes these days.

So much worse than people who make the moronic choice to use sunbeds too.

Fortunately ash doesn’t blow off in your face, and no one does walk directly in front of the pram blowing smoke in your child’s face. Both of those are hyperbolic, made up occurrences that just don’t happen in real life.

Well not to be picky but technically smokers can smoke where they like if its not somewhere where smoking is prohibited.

I constantly encounter people smoking where it IS prohibited. They don't give a shit.

Nope they happen every day.

The vast majority of smokers don’t give a shit about the impact their smoking has on other people hence lighting up and walking directly in front of people while smoking, and due to the laws of physics the ash and the smoke will go down wind which can often be behind them.

Well if smokers don't care about the impact their habit has on their own children, they are certainly not going to care about a few stranger's and their children. Selfish is not the word really, Smokers are well and truly brainwashed!

Trust me, you'll smell of it. People just maybe thought you regularly spent time around smokers.

What now?
These things can and do happen.
As with the stink smokers are likely oblivious.

Smoking in any space with lots of people is selfish. The effects of smoking are not limited to there smoker, you are choosing to put the effects of smoking onto other. So yes that’s selfish.

Yes.

If people want to smoke, that is their right and I don’t care what they do to THEIR body, but when in a crowded area and people can’t just move from them it is an issue. Some act like there is nowhere outdoors where that could be the case.

I know most smokers are usually mindful and considerate of where they light up but unfortunately like most groups there are some that ruin things for everyone.

@Vgbeat 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

No, they know. It’s always incredibly obvious to everyone but the smoker.
They probably feel like they have to pass comment on the insane amount of perfume you use to ‘cover’ it.

I'm a former smoker with a smoker husband and smoker friendship circle (quitting was not easy).
I also have a 7 yo DS. I'm absolutely fine with people smoking outside (where permitted) but I do wish there were non smoking outside areas.

I remember taking DS to the park when he was little, going on the swings and a lady came up next to us, put her small DD on a swing a lit up meaning the kids were swinging back into her smoke. I had to move DS who was whining as he wanted to stay on the swings. I was a smoker at this time and genuinely couldn't understand how someone could do that in a kids park. But technically there weren't any no smoking signs around the park so she wasn't doing anything wrong as such. It was just quite eye opening.

It’s nuts, quite a few people on this thread have the same mentality that it’s fine to smoke around kids in a park.
‘it’s not my job to parent your child’
’go inside if you don’t like it’
’its not illegal’

Genuinely cannot wrap my head around someone with that level of entitlement!

I'm a smoker. I didn't think you could smoke at outdoor seating in cafes. I thought that if there wasn't a designated area, you couldn't smoke. You never see ashtrays on tables now. I wouldn't do it, people are eating.
I wouldn't smoke in a crowd, either. I am so used to moving away now, I am surprised it's not second nature to smokers.
Yes, I know it smells. I need to give up. I can go all day without smoking as I can't do it at work. I am surprised at how hard it is to give it up. When I have managed to give up for brief periods, I have felt so much better.
I smoke roll ups and always save my butts for the bin. I hate the habit, am embarrassed to admit I still do it, but try to not be THAT smoker whilst I still do.

I’m saying you have to accept that outside is where the smokers have been relegated to. Just be aware. You can’t have it all ways. If you don’t like cigarette smoke why have you chosen to sit outside on a table that probably had an ashtray on then moan? I honestly don’t get it

Surely anyone can see that being able to smoke outside doesn't also mean not considering anyone but yourself though?

I’m a non smoker and I’ve been surprised a few times by people who smoke and I had no idea.

You can’t issue a blanket statement like “all smokers stink and we can tell” because, well, if you came across someone who didn’t smell of smoke and you didn’t see them light up, how would you know they were a smoker?

I knew this thread would turn in to this. So many MN users are comically opposed to smoking and vaping. You’d think they were as bad as rapists and murderers the way people go on.

When out in public, we’ve all got to rub along together as best we can. Some people will be more considerate than others - such is life. You all need to stop taking it so seriously

Smokers and vapers = drug addicts

The other big issue about smoking is litter.

Despite the Russians being enthusiastic smokers, it has been banned in Red Square for many many years to keep the place tidy.

I would certainly suggest that there is a case for a ban in places like town centres for that reason alone.

I would also suggest that drivers should be banned from smoking as they are not in proper control of their vehicle

YANBU I’m a smoker and only smoke in my garden but if I’m out and desperate,I will go somewhere where no one else is. I’d never inflict it on someone else. It is gross

In the days when I smoked numerous people evinced surprise “You don’t look like a smoker”, including from someone who maintained they could always tell. I can only assume I didn’t smell like one either.

Tobacco fascists really do want their bread buttered both sides. Any enclosed space is smokefree but now they want to claim everywhere outdoors too. I blame smokers in part, I still smoked in 2007 and was astonished at how we just rolled over.

The attempt to use ’entitlement’ as an insult falls flat when you consider the fact that they are, quite literally, entitled. They are smoking where they are legally entitled to. If you don’t like it then it absolutely is on you to move away.

Coffee and wine drinkers = drug addicts

Parents who rely on calpol to get their children through teething = creating drug addicts

You know the poster and the people she works with?

There are smokers that don’t smell of smoke.

From my experience, those that don’t smell are usually the ones who don’t continuously smoke in their homes so the smoke doesn’t get embedded into the walls, carpets, fabrics, etc and are diligent about washing their clothes afterwards from what I’ve noticed.

As someone who doesn’t smoke I don’t always know if someone smokes or not. Some will smell smoky sure, but I’ve known others that don’t.

You are right about the littering issue.

Working in my garden that has been my project for several years and about finally finished only to find cigarette butts in my borders because they couldn’t be bothered to take it with them. Such people probably litter anyway regardless. The city I grew up in fined people for littering. Think it’s about £400 now if caught and there are cameras so it has been a good deterrent.

Yup, potentially them too. 🤔