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?

You don't have to put your children's lungs at risk by standing in the front row of a tractor show, though do you?

Airplanes bring us food too, but I've never stood there on the runway making my kids breathe in the fuel.

Of course, but usually they're expelling their fumes into fields or non-residential roads, rather than amid crowds of people. I'm not saying don't go to a tractor parade - just that if you do, you'll be breathing in a lot more pollution from a constant stream of tractors than you will from the bloke behind you having a ciggy.

Some smokers are mind blowingingly selfish. We had two come and sit at our table outside the pub and light up while we were eating, without asking if they could sit there, much less light up. Another one lit up on the next table but extended their arm across to our table so it didn't affect the people she was sat with. In both cases we were told to fuck off when we objected. Should be completely banned in public places.

I remember I was newly pregnant and it was the part of the pandemic where you could sit outside at cafes but not inside so we were doing just that in a small cafe courtyard. Maybe 2-3 tables. And then the guy next to us (the only other person there) sparked up and I felt like the smoke was about to make me puke (the only other smell I couldn't stand while pregnant was olives) so we had to leave. It was a hot day and the courtyard was small so the smoke was quite intense.

I do find it incredible though the public attitude shift towards smoking, I remember when the smoking ban came in to action and there was a strong group of people who really did think it was their right or full everyone else's lungs with their cigarette smoke 🤷‍♀️

And if you hear a BOOM, run for your life 🤣

The tobacco duty contributes about £8.8 billion a year, which covers the total farming subsidies with multiples to spare. Smoking is good for tractors.

See, we can all say silly things.

@Readytoevolve so are diesel fumes which you forced your children to inhale.

🙄 highly doubtful, unless they were stupid aswell as selfish.

What used to get me, when my kids were small, was smokers trailing a cigarette at a child’s eye height around a busy shopping area. My children were 2-6 maybe and absolutely would not have been looking out for random burning things at eye height! The smell is also annoying op.

Or they could just not smoke perhaps? And allow non smokers to enjoy a smoke free environment outside …. They have the option to smoke at home or away from public areas.

And people who object to smoke can enjoy a smokefree environment inside. They have the option to sit at an inside table.

Yeah, thanks for that, it's selfish sods like you lighting up in crowds instead of going off somewhere out of the way that make having a kid with severe asthma even more difficult on nice days 👏

I’m fairly certain there is a huge overlap between people who don’t believe in any controls on smoking and those who oppose policies on cleaner vehicles, or restricted zones for air quality.

TBH I don’t enjoy it but there are other things that annoy me more, like playing music out loud on phones, long performative telephone conversations, vaping, eating fast food on public transport, excessive swearing and I’m realistic enough to know that all of these things aren’t ever going to be banned! So it’s probably on me to go and live in a cave!

Meh I smoke in my EV 🤷‍♀️

It's selfish.

You find facts amusing? 🫣

The tables outside a cafe etc are the smoking area, really. It’s where we enjoy a coffee and a smoke year round. Few things more annoying than non-smokers cluttering up the terrace when there’s a sunny day and having the gall to be prissy about it. There’s alway the indoor tables for you if it’s an issue. Off you pop.

I smoke, but not in populated areas and I wouldn't dream of doing it in close proximity to children. Just because I enjoy a cigarette doesn't mean I have to inflict it on others.
I don't care if that makes me sound self-righteous.

They're not 'the smoking area', They're just the only area you can smoke.

PP didn't ask you to parent, she asked for some consideration.

This professor will be interested in your research. Imagine his embarrassment when he reads your research proving him wrong.

https://guysandstthomasspecialistcare.co.uk/news/how-does-vaping-impact-your-lung-health/#:~:text=Vaping%2Drelated%20disorders%20can%20range,some%20form%20of%20the%20condition.