Does it infuriate you when smokers leave the table to smoke and delay the service of your next course?

Question

I hate the fact that it has become socially acceptable for people to jump up and leave the table - even before any course has been served at all - and they come and go and leave gaps around the table, gaps in the conversation, gaps in the service of the food. Today for the first time, a fellow lunch guest and I persuaded the restaurant to serve us our main course (which was already plated) while the smokers puffed outside. I didn't know this man before today but we both agreed it was rude - and his wife and my husband were amongst the culprits. Even better we got dessert while they nipped out for the next ciggy break and then we non-smokers went to the coffee lounge and took all the comfy chairs while they were eating dessert. But I doubt it's going to happen again in a hurry. I'd sooner people smoked at the table than all this disruption. What can we do to stop it?

Answer 1

I live in Europe, and I wish people would get up and leave the room to smoke...consider yourself lucky.

Answer 2

OK...i'll probably get thumbs down for this but us smokers seem to be getting a raw deal at the moment....no ,I would not expect you to tolerate my smoke at the table but I would think that you wouldn't mind if I needed to nip outside for a quick ciggie.....or perhaps I will wait til we get to MY CAR, that I am giving YOU a lift home in and light up there, insist that you don't open the windows because it's cold and make you breathe in my second hand smoke.

Answer 3

The smoking ban in pubs and restaurants is ridiculous.  

Contrary to their protestations before the ban was imposed non-smokers have not come out in their droves to replace the exiled smokers.  

The plus is you can go out to a popular pub on a Friday and Saturday night and get a seat or even a table easily.  

The problem then is that there's no-one worthwhile to talk to!

Answer 4

I would tell the waiter to bring my plate and just delay the smokers' food. Smoking is a filthy expensive habit.

Answer 5

I am a smoker and in the state of New Jersey..all smoking is banned. I like to have a cigarette after a meal, but would never leave until everyone is finished. That is rude and you are right. Congrats on quitting. It is hard to do. Just tell them in a nice way and see how they react. Most people that care about others, will understand. You could move to a state where it's banned!  lol I don't stay as long in a diner or restaurant, but I can refrain until we are all done, which is proper. When you talk to them, tell them how you feel. Then it is their choice to go out and eat with you or not. If they value you..they will change their habits and wait. Good luck.

Answer 6

Sorry but the government started all of this by stopping smoking in public places, no party can go out and be sociable anymore you will always get someone who wants a cigarette, start a conversation and you either have to stop while someone has to go outside for a cig or carry on and they have to catch up when they come back in. you will never stop this unfortunately but what I would like to know is when the no smoking ban was evident all the non smokers said they can`t wait, we will start to come out in the nice clean air, I haven`t seen anyone of these people yet because drinking smoking and eating go together and they always will, these people will never come out because they are stuck in their ways

Answer 7

well   yes   can  see  your  point   but  when  it   normally  takes   30mins  between  each  course  and  the  non  smokers  follow  the  smokers  out  side  for  dose  of  hypothermia  and  the  other   non  smokers   are   so  rude  they  don't  wait  for   smokers  to  return  from   fagaroni(cig)  breaks   in  general  only  take  5/10mins  ...(most  smokers  nowadays   don't  stay out  longer  unless  they  have  met  someone  really  interesting)that  was  total   disrespect  for  your  fellow  guests   to  PERSUAD  the  restrontier to  serve    how  spitefull  ....  Go  to  many  a  night  out  with  friends  and  its  not  a  problem  but  you  clearly  had  issues   ..and  choices   ...were the  smokers  didn't   ....me  follow  the  smokers  out  because  they  have  a good   time  outside   a  laugh     some  free  air  and  their  more  relaxed  not   fighting  over  who  has  the  comfiest  chair  in  fact  see  the  non  smokers  going  out  for  air   now  because  the  smell   wasnt  covered  over  by   all  the  rest   that  was  disguised  by     smoke     as  in  body  odours   yuk   ..gees  what  resturant  were  you  in  that  served  up  your  courses  so  fast   ....they  having  Quick  turn  over  or  something  yes   can   see  you  may  find  it  rude   but  it  was  the  norm  to  smoke  in  between   courses  and  there  was    smoking  and  non  smoking  bits  of   even  the  poshiest  resturants  till  the  so  callled  nanny  state  stepped  in  there  was  choices  now  there  isnt    so   dont  feel  that  agrieived    have  some  symphathy  for  the  ones  with  no  choice   ...and  dont  give  me  they  have  a  choice  to  smoke  or  not  its  not  that  easy    ...as  X  smoker  you  know  that    ..

Answer 8

That's funny.  I gave up smoking at the end of January 07 - in readiness for the ban in July.  I think it looks a little desperate when you see people gasping for a ciggie outside a pub in the freezing cold!  I had to stay away from pubs for a while to resist the temptation of a ciggie.  I remember going out on the first night of the ban and having a massive row with my other half as he and afew of my other friends kept going out for a ciggie, leaving me sat with people who I didn't know struggling for conversation!   It was so bad I thought I might actually go out and stand in the cold even though I no longer smoke! It's a difficult one but if I had to wait for my dinner I would be annoyed too!

Answer 9

Can't you carry on without them?

Answer 10

Try to get the smoking ban lifted.

Answer 11

That's what I like about a law that they passed here in Georgia. All restaurants now have to provide a smoke free environment. So we no longer have this problem here. If I'm not mistaken they can't even smoke at a bar.

Answer 12

Nicotine the food perhaps lmao

Answer 13

Please give smokers a break...Because non smokers were annoyed by our smoking, we have to go out in the cold and the rain to smoke...and we hardly complain. But now it annoys you that we go out, because it interupts your dinner? Either get back to smoking, or only go the restaurant with non-smokers

Answer 14

It's no different from you getting up from the table to go and have a f**t, which you probably do quite often being obsessed with food.

Answer 15

I think it's ridiculous too . I was brought up around smoke and never really noticed it. I myself smoked till 2 years ago and secretly quite like the smell still. However, what is worse is that every time I step outside a restaurant, builiding or shop of any kind, i'm hit with this wall of smoke cause everybody is forced outside. Last night I went into a pub for a breath of fresh air!!

Answer 16

Actually, I don't think I know anyone who still smokes.