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 do think it will move to being illegal to smoke in populated and more contained outdoor spaces in the not too distant future. Plenty of other places do it.

Smoking might be legal in a play park, a packed square with people eating etc all might be legal now but you’re still an arsehole if you do it.

Sorry, posted in wrong place - I was responding to the comment that apparently, vaping does NOT impact health?! Well that's a relief, isn't it... 🤦🏻‍♀️

The medically fragile and disabled have the right to be part of the public space just as much as anyone else.

Instead, we are constantly told to move or stay home by people who don’t want to be considerate.

It what?! Vaping doesn't impact health. You read it here first. No wonder the kids are do daft.....

All of this

On holiday it's more socially acceptable to smoke around other diners if it's outside.

It's such a filthy habit

No one is asking smokers to stay home, but instead to consider finding a quiet place to smoke, not in front of all doors/exits.

I'm a militant smoker and my priority is my own enjoyment. I'd love the OP to be time-travelled back to the '70s. Nobody took issue that we smoked in pubs, cafes, planes, trains, upstairs on buses, the cinema, etc. When I was in a maternity ward, it had an adjoining smoking room. First thing I did after giving birth was stagger off to have a fag. And yes, I smoked and drank all through pregnancy too. When you've lived through what you perceive as normality, the shrieks and moans of judgemental anti-smokers are of no concern whatsoever

Yes, your right is the same as the smoker's right - and by both sitting there doing your own thing you are both exercising that.
The responsibility for your health lies only with you and that means you might want to choose to go somewhere else. Otherwise, lump it.

Your kids are at considerably more risk from BBQs and wood burning stoves, in the order of many thousands, than from cigarette smoke outside.

But yes, smokers can be inconsiderate, just like everyone else.

Smoking and drinking whilst pregnant is nothing to be proud of, it's horrifically selfish.

Laughing at the idea of objecting to cigarette smoke when going to watch a load of tractors farting out their diesel fumes over everyone.

Front row too!

You do realise smoking cessation services recommend vaping as the most effective way of stopping smoking? Show me the studies that detail the research that evidences the impact of vaping on health.

Were there ash trays on the tables outside the café?

No idea why you are getting such harsh responses. Smoking is disgusting and of course people should move away from others when they light up. Would these people honestly not care if children were breathing smoke into their lungs because of their cigarette. I used to smoke a lot in my younger days and I always moved away from people or I just wouldn't smoke at all if I couldn't move away. It's incredibly selfish to smoke around other people in a small area. I vape now, but want to give that up also. I was at an outside cafe at the weekend. I would've vaped if there been empty tables next to us but the tables nearby were full of families, so I didn't. It's not hard.

The smell to non-vapers can be foul, health matters totally aside.

I'd love the OP to be time-travelled back to the '70s

Yep, those of us of a certain age and above, can remember it well. I can remember even some non smoking families would have an ashtray in their living room for visitors.

Fact is, people like the OP will never be happy unless it's 100% banned. Even if/when it gets banned in say parks or outdoor seating areas, she will still moan if someone passes her on the street smoking or whatever. You can't please people like that.

Ultimately our personal freedoms are being eroded little by little. I can see a future where anything unhealthy is banned or made prohibitively expensive but thankfully I should be long gone by then!

Lots of smells can be foul. That’s life. 🤷‍♀️

Yes, but you were the one saying the smell is irrelevant. For a lot of people it really isn't.

Would these people honestly not care if children were breathing smoke into their lungs because of their cigarette.

They might not spot the children through the thick fug of tractor diesel fumes?

Then they can move away. The smell isn’t the reason smoking was banned in enclosed spaces, it was because of the health implications of passive smoking. That’s the only valid reason for complaint.

Gosh to all the tractor haters, when you sit down to eat your next meal, veg or meat and beyond, know it was likely transported by a tractor. They’re far more useful than smoking.

I hate the smell and will move if possible
It's one of those things that is legal - but antisocial and selfish. However, it's up to them

I sat outside a hotel last week which had about 12 tables outside. We were the only people sitting there. A man came and sat down right next to DH and lit up! WTF would you do that instead of sitting further away?! I was annoyed that we had to move instead

The one that does boil my piss is people doing it right outside hospital doorways (especially maternity 😢😡) even though there are signs everywhere saying it's not allowed - yet nobody ever clamps down on it