Grr Ashtrays outside supermarket doors!

inca_2

Going back to the OP I suppose the reason really is to stop people throwing butts on the floor at the entrance. Many pubs also have the ashtrays pretty much on the doorway or right next to the entrance for this reason too. I don't think it will change, because, idle as it is there will always be some smokers who will just lob their butt on the floor rather than walk a few metres. I hated seeing that too when I smoked. I never understood why it took our city council so long to put those little ashtrays on top of the bins, I used to stub it out on the side before I put it in the bin and then be really paranoid that I'd walk off leaving the bin smouldering!

I've never seen large groups of people smoking in the doorway of a supermarket either. One or two in the vicinity at most. As for whoever mentioned the smell of the ashtray when they walk past into the supermarket I think you need to man up a bit. Honestly, can you really smell the bin that much that it has an effect on your day? At most you'll get a whiff in the 2 seconds it takes to walk past it and into the shop and then it's gone. Unfortunately as long as there are fishmongers, sweaty people, manure in fields, cheese counters and people who refuse to wash their clothes there will always be bad smells to put up with. All you can do is get on with your day and hope that sweaty git on the seat next to you on the bus is getting off at the next stop (seriously, why do they always sit next to me??)

rev_henry

Well the smoking pub customers are hardly going to walk down the road a bit for a smoke are they! I think its a different kettle of fish talking about pubs compared to supermarkets as smoking is a part of pub culture, for want of a better way of saying that!
I hate seeing that as well and never do it unless its private property and or there's no bin for no good reason. I sometimes get sent to the bin with other peoples butts as well as mine because they know I will throw mine away properly!

Harry_Flashman

rev_henry wrote: »

as smoking is a part of pub culture,

Amen brother - that's why our pubs are dying out now :mad:

janninew

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

Amen brother - that's why our pubs are dying out now :mad:

Could it also have something to do with the recession and the fact that people can get such cheap deals at the supermarket on alcohol? I don't doubt that the smoking ban has had an impact, but I don't think its completely to blame as some smokers would like us to believe!

Harry_Flashman

Au contraire old love.

The trouble is, the smoking ban was instigated and supported by the kind of do-gooders who said "We don't go to pubs because of all the smoke."

Unfortunately, they included the back street ale houses in this rather than keeping it to the swish 'wine bar' type joints that such people may inhabit.

Net effect, back street ale houses die (unless they flout the ban - and quite a few find it profitable to do so) and the 'wine bars' flourish.

Tell me, if there was such a demand for smoke free pubs, wouldn't commercial pressure have created it's own 'ban' a long time ago? Publicans ain't fools, they will provide what their customers want.

janninew

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

Au contraire old love.

The trouble is, the smoking ban was instigated and supported by the kind of do-gooders who said "We don't go to pubs because of all the smoke."

Unfortunately, they included the back street ale houses in this rather than keeping it to the swish 'wine bar' type joints that such people may inhabit.

Net effect, back street ale houses die (unless they flout the ban - and quite a few find it profitable to do so) and the 'wine bars' flourish.

Tell me, if there was such a demand for smoke free pubs, wouldn't commercial pressure have created it's own 'ban' a long time ago? Publicans ain't fools, they will provide what their customers want.

So you don't think it has anything to do with the recession then? I am a young (ish) women with a large group of friends (some smokers, some non smokers) and we don't go out nearly as often as we use, and the main reason is price! We would much rather stay at home and buy a couple of bottles of wine from Sainsburys, the smoking ban hasn't influenced our decision at all for either the smokers of the group or the non smokers! Not the same in all cases, but I find it hard to believe that the smoking ban is completely to blame for so many pubs closing down.

rev_henry

janninew wrote: »

Could it also have something to do with the recession and the fact that people can get such cheap deals at the supermarket on alcohol? I don't doubt that the smoking ban has had an impact, but I don't think its completely to blame as some smokers would like us to believe!

That as well, but all these things contribute together.

rev_henry

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

Au contraire old love.

The trouble is, the smoking ban was instigated and supported by the kind of do-gooders who said "We don't go to pubs because of all the smoke."

Unfortunately, they included the back street ale houses in this rather than keeping it to the swish 'wine bar' type joints that such people may inhabit.

Net effect, back street ale houses die (unless they flout the ban - and quite a few find it profitable to do so) and the 'wine bars' flourish.

Tell me, if there was such a demand for smoke free pubs, wouldn't commercial pressure have created it's own 'ban' a long time ago? Publicans ain't fools, they will provide what their customers want.

Reminds me of a story I heard a while ago. A landlord was fined for smoking on his own, in his OWN pub, after closing time.

baza52

A large group of friends and you only get a couple of bottles....

Smoking HAS affected pubs.

Before the ban you could happily sit in a group of friends all night.
Now the smokers are constantly going outside leaving the non smoker(s) of the group sitting on their own inside.

I would also say that most people in the pub who go for a drink rather than food are smokers. probably a 80/20 split.

qetu1357

Cheap booze from supermarkets is why pubs are closing.

£3 a pint in a pub OR £6 for 18 bottles from a supermarket then have your friends round, order a takeaway and put Sky Sports on.