Smoking ban OK to flout in stations?
I’ve had two run-ins with people over the smoking ban in Scotland this afternoon, at exactly the same place.
I have yet to see anyone break the law in a pub, but Edinburgh’s Waverley station is frequently the scene of smokers lighting up in a prohibited area.
So, this afternoon. I’m waiting by the taxi drop-off point, about 10 feet from one of the many A-frame advertising boards with the prohibition notice. An old boy (72 years old he was) had lit up at the side of me. So I pointed out he was in a no-smoking area. “But I thought it was up there”. I pointed out it was the whole station, as on that sign. Then he launched, in front of his grand-daughter, into a tirade. “72 years old I am, always smoked, never been to the doctor, and it’s do-gooders like you…” Well, that lit the blue touch-paper. He did not appreciate I was pointing this out so a member of station staff didn’t have to, and thus potentially avoiding a fine. He wouldn’t have been fined anyway, there’s a softly-softly approach in place, but that’s not really why I felt the need.
He did put it out after I walked away from his ranting, but was still muttering away under his breath.
Not two minutes later, a young chap (of an age I never established) lit up as he walked past the sign. Now this sign is around 3 feet tall, so there’s no way he missed it. I did point at it, got shrugged shoulders in response. As he turned the corner of the building two police officers also turned the same corner in the opposite direction. At which point our intrepid smoker tried to conceal his fag in his hand.
The concealment did not have the desired effect. One of the police officers sniffed the air, looking quizzical. Once I gestured to them as if I was smoking, then pointed in the guy’s direction, one turned-about and had a quiet word. He acknowledged and said thank you.
Do I feel bad about “grassing” him up? In a way yes, I was brought up never to grass. But the indignant look he gave me when he blatantly ignored the sign made it a deserving case. I firmly believe it is a smoker’s right to smoke, but where and when legal to do so. And rightly or wrongly it is currently illegal to smoke in Edinburgh’s main station. Until such time the law is repealed it must be enforced.
And the old boy? He may well never need a doctor, but does need an anger management therapist, clearly. I hope he had a good rant when he met his daughter and got it off his chest.
Background:
All enclosed public spaces are smoke-free in Scotland. And that includes the train station at Edinburgh, which is totally covered. The only place within the station boundary where smoking is permitted is from a point circa half way up each vehicular access ramp, where the roof stops and is thus classed as open space.
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