When is smoking inside, really inside?

lindos90

Took my mum out today and went to have our dinner at a local cafe.

While we were eating I could smell cigarette smoke, I thought someone had walked into the cafe smoking, but when I looked round, the two women serving in the cafe were stood in the doorway behind the back of the counter, smoking.

As the door was open (although it did have those chains hanging..I think its to stop flies) The smoke was wafting right through the cafe.

Im not a kill joy, everyone is entitled to a break, and obviously its their decision if they smoke or not, but I thought you couldnt smoke in cafes anymore? (or is it allowed if you stand in the doorway?)

Spoilt our dinner slightly, it seems years since Ive smelt tobacco smoke while ive been eating.

I decided not to complain, as its the one place my mum will eat a hot meal, and I would like to be able to continue to take her, but just wondered if anyone else would have been miffed, or am I being over sensitive?

meritaten

If the smoke could be smelt in the cafe then obviously its NOT outside!
tbh the ladies may not have realised that the smoke was drifting inside. were they employees or owners? either way a discreet word as in 'Ladies, I know you were on your break, but your ciggy smoke was drifting inside the cafe and the customers could smell it - it puts a lot of people off and I KNOW you dont want to lose customers..........' with a nice smile and an air of helpfulness.
I am sure they wouldnt take offense - and if they did they deserve to lose custom. Oh, and I am a smoker myself, but really appreciate being able to eat out without have fag smoke blown at me! I dont smoke at my own table (I dont smoke indoors actually), and I can appreciate that non smokers would hate it even more than I do!

Cat2011

I think "Indoors" is any area with a roof and 3 sides, i,e, open on only 1 side. So guess a doorway would be indoors offically.

SailorSam

I hope you never left them a tip.

lindos90

meritaten wrote: »

'Ladies, I know you were on your break, but your ciggy smoke was drifting inside the cafe and the customers could smell it - it puts a lot of people off and I KNOW you dont want to lose customers..........' with a nice smile and an air of helpfulness.

I did wonder how to approach it with them, and in the end I chickened out, theres always that worry that they might spit in my food next time:eek: (or worse!)

Im not sure if one of the ladies is the manager or owner, she regularly works there. I have noticed it in the past, but today was particularly smokey.

I'll see how it is next time, and maybe mention it if I dare! I hope it doesnt happen again. My mums not too well, can't walk far, and cant tollerate being in the car for long, this is a local cafe and we can park right outside, perfect apart from the smoke!:rotfl:

biscit

My local pub used to have a warning that the smoking ban extended so many feet beyond the door of the property. Not sure if that was a white lie to stop smokers blocking the entrance, or whether it's true.

pulliptears

I complained to a local pub chain last month, we had waited 45 minutes for food but the main issues was staff and customers smoking in a doorway because it was raining. The whole pub stank and in the end I told the bar staff to cancel the food and sort out their smoking areas. I left.

rustyboy21

This is what has become the norm, since the smoking ban took place.

I went to a manufacturers the other week. Previously in 2004 they had a bus shelter at the bottom of the car park, with a yellow line around the vicinity of it showing where smoking was allowed. Out of the yellow line and the staff could be sacked for gross misconduct. The shelter was lovely and warm.

This time I went for a fag and one whole side had been taken down, the other 3 sides were cut down by 2/3 rds and it was bleedin freezing ! The yellow line was still there. The shelter is to the correct percentage of open area for the law. Seems really silly. Whilst there we went out to a country pub ( really old) for a meal. Due to no smoke, it reeked of stale beer and god knows what else, put me off my food ! Think it would have been better with smoke in there !

The smoking law wasnt thought out properly in fact it has caused more problems than it solved, When it was legal to smoke in a pub you didn't have lager louts outside smoking, they were all inside. You can't pass a pub now without feeling threatend or on the look out.

Was howling with laughter one time when at the local hospital with mate. were standing with all the patients having a quick smoke before we went in. All of a sudden a recorded message came on saying you are smoking in a non smoking zone, a security man is on the way to caution you. When he arrived a little old lady with a fag in her gob and on an IV drip, piped up '' So it's not ok to smoke here, but you would do f**k all if you saw a junky jacking up on heroin would you you cowardly b*****d '' He went red in the face and skulked off ! :rotfl:

maninthestreet

If cigaretter smoke is entering an enclosed business premises from outside, it's possible that the business may be in breach of the smoking regulations. You should report the business to the local authority responsible for enforcing the smoking regulations.

nzmegs

I had to ask someone to move away from a doorway recently because their smoke was drifting in. it was a lovely day and the door was opened. One of the joys of having kids is that you can point out that it isn't healthy for the children. However the person was really nice about it and understood compeltely. I was polite and thanked them when they came back in for being so understanding. it was an exchnage which could have been awkward but was handled carefully. I think all you need to do it be polite on both sides and it should be worked out.

rustyboy21

maninthestreet wrote: »

If cigaretter smoke is entering an enclosed business premises from outside, it's possible that the business may be in breach of the smoking regulations. You should report the business to the local authority responsible for enforcing the smoking regulations.

It would be better if you didnt spout off legal jargon to the smoker, a friendly request usually suffices