I have traveled quite a bit of Thailand and in general, I find that smoking is only allowed inside establishment where Farang drink. Where there are no farang the smoking rules are obeyed! This resolves the problem of second hand smoke.

For people who are scared/complained about exhaust emissions, how would you resolve this problem and still keep the country moving?

just because we have exhaust fumes that are bad for us, I do not see that as a justification for us to breath in other toxins, that can be avoided!

What a load of nonsense. Then l suggest you take action to close down all the street food vendors that cover the whole of LOS for burning charcoal and gas plus their horrible smells. While your at it start closing up all the sewer gratings that cover the country bellowing shit stench, start with the ones under the street food vendor.

Perhaps you should start a post on food vendors and sewer ventilation, as it has nothing to do you smoking in a bar!

That is, unless the toilet blocks up and the street vendor brings his barrow into the bar.

What denial. Smokers know it is bad for them. But that is a matter for them and no one else.

Not when it selfishly affects many around them that do not have the choice...

You do have a choice. You can decide to go to a bar that doesn't allow smoking. Same as smokers can choose not to go to bars that ban smoking.

Simply put, if you don't like smoke then move. No one is making you frequent such places.

So you are ok if I come and fart in your face repeatedly while you eat dinner ??

It is a disgusting habit that effects all around you...innocently....you know it and are simply embarrassed for smokers lack of self respect and thoughtfulness.

You can fart or do whatever you want. If I don't like it I'll tell the manager/owner. If he/she decides you can do that then it is up to me to leave and not go back to there.

The choice is mine.

I am not embarrassed for smokers, I'm embarrassed for those that think it is the end of the world for them if they get a sniff of it. I wonder how they have ever survived living in their bubble.

+1 (above)

It's interesting to note the extent to which some people will go to potest about second hand smoke, it's almost become a witch hunt for some and has shades of Macarthyism about it all - the town in the US that is now voting to outlaw smoking anywhere in the town, even in private homes, be very very scared of that.

As we do not seem to be able to find a consensus, perhaps it would simply be better to support the doubling of taxes upon cigarettes every two years. This seems to be the most effective intervention.

While not having an immediate effect, this solution in time would increasingly impede children from beginning the destructive habit, encourage the unfortunate addicts to save their own health, and prevent the vastly greater majority of us from from also being at risk.

Plus, should we agree, it would end the little animosities that pop up from time to time between our brotherly (and sisters in this) forum.

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by CMX

It comes down to good manners....and obviously smokers in general do not have those good manners.

If you are proud of that, then so be it.

It comes down to good manners....and obviously smokers in general do not have those good manners.

If you are proud of that, then so be it.

Why would I be proud of smokers that have no manners?

Though I am certainly embarrassed by my fellow non smoker's bad manners and rantings.

It comes down to good manners....and obviously smokers in general do not have those good manners.

If you are proud of that, then so be it.

simply not true i'm afraid, and your petty generalisations are exposing your small-mindedness.

as posted earlier, i and every other smoker i know in chiang mai is very considerate to non-smokers. i also say please and thank you all the time and never have to be reminded by my mother to write thank you notes to people every christmas and birthday. nothing wrong with my manners thanks.

Wow...the only smoker on the planet....and friends...all of them....whose smoke does not in any way affect other people....you should patent your technique and sell it to the filth companies....you'd make a fortune.

Shame on YOU. Are you the owner of the restaurant? Lucky he didn't just get up and smack you with his walking stick.

He was having a private conversation with his woman and you were not invited to comment. I'm not a smoker but would never go to tell someone he/she can't smoke in an establishment that I don't own. If you have an issue then tell the manager, if they allow it then you are free to move on. It isn't up to you to decide how a restaurant bar should be run.

BTW, how did you come to the conclusion he was a GI Joe?

in response:firstly when did you NOT hear an American having a private conversation...

secondly i did not comment on his smoking habit or infact his choice in women.

thirdly- yes he was smaller than me but my risk assesment said worst case was getting shot

a soldier- well seemed he wanted everyone to see his dog tag and tell stories about Vietnam..

whether he or anyone else smokes beside me , i dont care, but would be nice to ask if i minded- .

Sounds more like you have a bug up your butt about Americans rather than about smoking.

As a smoker I follow a very simple rule about where I'll light up. I look around and ask myself, would these people smell it if I let go a bowel busting fart? If the answer is yes I move before I light up my smelly cig

As a smoker I follow a very simple rule about where I'll light up. I look around and ask myself, would these people smell it if I let go a bowel busting fart? If the answer is yes I move before I light up my smelly cig

+++

Perfect solution. Shows still another smoker exercising decency, civility, scruples, and consideration for others.

I won't even suggest that 'toxic' be placed somewhere near the word smelly, because the problem is solved for the rest of us. Most kind.

Ive never smoked but it doesn't bother me other people smoking in a bar near me, people have the rites to do what they wish. Ive never been in a situation where someone has intentionally blown their smoke in my face (this would piss me off and then I would mention it) but I have been annoyed in bars before where a non smoker (probably ex smoker) has started to pretend to cough really loud in order to get the attention of someone smoking, to be honest that annoys me more that the smoker ever would. Like I say each to their own but in my opinion its not a problem.

What the OP failed to mention is whether smoking was actually allowed outside or not. If there were no signs or anything, the smoker could have probably quite rightly assumed that it was allowed, at least he probably should have checked for ash trays or asked for one before lighting up. If the OP just assumed that it wasn't allowed that makes his arrogance just as low as the smoker who assumed that it was.

Places such as Daret's that disallow smoking on the entire site are quite unusual. Normally, it's quite acceptable to simply go to an outside table. That particular smoker didn't really do anything that bad, but yes he could have checked first.

Of course it is very ignorant to say 'the non smoker should just move' but It is worth remembering that the non smoker can pick anywhere they want to sit but it's the smoker who has to find somewhere where they are allowed to sit and smoke or at least smoke and not offend or annoy or cause anyone to passive smoke. The non smoker can choose anywhere they want to sit. The non smoker can't sit in a smoking area and get annoyed by smoking that would be unfair! One thing that used to annoy me when I was a smoker and it was still allowed inside restaurants in England, was when I asked for a smoking table which I was given, and the non smokers sitting next to me on another smoking table were getting annoyed by my smoking. Why did they choose a smoking table?!

Now I'm a non smoker and can appreciate both views. But basically I think you will find that if you politely ask a smoker to move to another area to smoke, and there is one to go - then they really won't mind.

What the OP failed to mention is whether smoking was actually allowed outside or not. If there were no signs or anything, the smoker could have probably quite rightly assumed that it was allowed, at least he probably should have checked for ash trays or asked for one before lighting up. If the OP just assumed that it wasn't allowed that makes his arrogance just as low as the smoker who assumed that it was.

Places such as Daret's that disallow smoking on the entire site are quite unusual. Normally, it's quite acceptable to simply go to an outside table. That particular smoker didn't really do anything that bad, but yes he could have checked first.

Of course it is very ignorant to say 'the non smoker should just move' but It is worth remembering that the non smoker can pick anywhere they want to sit but it's the smoker who has to find somewhere where they are allowed to sit and smoke or at least smoke and not offend or annoy or cause anyone to passive smoke. The non smoker can choose anywhere they want to sit. The non smoker can't sit in a smoking area and get annoyed by smoking that would be unfair! One thing that used to annoy me when I was a smoker and it was still allowed inside restaurants in England, was when I asked for a smoking table which I was given, and the non smokers sitting next to me on another smoking table were getting annoyed by my smoking. Why did they choose a smoking table?!

Now I'm a non smoker and can appreciate both views. But basically I think you will find that if you politely ask a smoker to move to another area to smoke, and there is one to go - then they really won't mind.

Ash trays really are the key. Open eyes and look.