Smoking in a shop.

[jane2100]

I was in a greengrocer's shop and the salesperson was not wearing a mask and had been smoking an electronic cigarette and was having a coughing fit. People shouldn't be smoking if they're handling foodstuff and serving customers. This will spread the virus. What can be done?

They shouldn't have been vaping in the shop, but all you need to do is wash the produce before consuming it, which you'd do anyway.

What can be done? You can shop elsewhere.

What would you like to be done?

what did they say when you complained?

Vote with your feet and buy elsewhere, if other people want to take the risk then it's up to them. I stopped using our local bakery because the staff were handling cash, touching thier faces and handling food with thier bare hands, no tongs, gloves or paper. Some places are disgusting then wonder why people buy pre packaged food from elsewhere.

I can't shop elsewhere. I'd like government advice to say you mustn't smoke e-cigarettes in enclosed places.

‘This will spread the virus’

Which one? Coughing can spread lots of viruses- if they have one in the first place.

What can be done?
Smash the windows in? Petrol bomb the shop? But your fruit from somewhere else? Wash it at home?

Go to another shop but it's hardly an issue.

I didn't complain. I don't want to fall out. But they might be spreading the virus.

There's no evidence vaping spreads covid

Having a chat about your day could spread the virus as well.

Would you like something to be done about that too?

They are exhaling an aerosol. It is precisely aerosols which transmit the virus. And coughing as well. If they were infected the shop would be full of virus particles.

You going to the shop could spread the virus, OP. What can be done?

So you didn’t complain

You’re not going to shop anywhere else

You just wanted to do some hand-wringing about ‘the virus’

But I wear a mask and I don't smoke.

Talking spreads the virus, as does breathing. Would you like those banned as well?

I don't like complaining and it would be difficult to shop elsewhere. I would like covid regulations to be updated to acknowledge that electronic smoking devices will transmit the virus and all forms of smoking are not allowed in enclosed spaces.

It's not smoking. There is a huge difference and they are differentiated between in law due to this

You shop elsewhere, including online. Job done.

Why can't you shop somewhere else? You can't control other people, it's easier to change yourself.

I don't like complaining

And yet here you are, complaining.

Seriously, OP - if you don't want to complain to the shopkeeper, or shop elsewhere, I'm not sure what you want from this thread.

It might not be smoking to you. But to most people there's not much difference.

It's not illegal to vape indoors, though most places disallow it as a matter of course.

There's no more chance of the virus being passed on by the water vapour than there is by the person breathing. All the vape does is show you the reach of the person's exhaled breath - which normally we can't see.

@jane2100

I don't like complaining and it would be difficult to shop elsewhere. I would like covid regulations to be updated to acknowledge that electronic smoking devices will transmit the virus and all forms of smoking are not allowed in enclosed spaces.

You can like all you want. It won't happen. What's more likely is that he'll ban you from his shop.

It isn't smoking and isn't illegal. It's up to each shop/business owner to decide if it's allowed on their premises.
Assuming that the owner of the greengrocers knows it's happening then there is nothing you can do.

@jane2100

It might not be smoking to you. But to most people there's not much difference.

There is a massive difference