I'm not wanting to start another smoking - good or bad - post, I am just wondering if anyone knows of any restaurants that have smoke free outside seating areas? I don't smoke, and have a hard enough time standing next to someone on the train platform, but I really hate having to sit inside on a gorgeous day because I don't want to be surrounded by smoke while I eat.

Maybe if there are some places out there, all of us non-smokers can support them and others will follow

But first of all, does such a place exist anywhere in Zurich or down either side of the lake???

Haven't seen it in Switzerland - maybe you can convince your friends to vote on the 23 Sept referendum?

How times have changed!

ADverts like this (1966) were everywhere in the 50ies/60ies

Not that I am aware of.

How could it exist? It is not possible to enforce a rule that infringes with someone's freedom to smoke outside. Or maybe it is possible but no one has proceeded with the venture on the basis their totally anti smoke clientele would barely pay the chefs salary let alone anything else.

sadly, I will have to continue eating outdoors on my balcony only...oh wait, except for the 3 neighbours who are all out smoking on theirs what can a person do...it was worth a try anyway. Might be an interesting business concept if anyone would dare to try it but might not be worth the advertising it would take to make people know about it...

oh, and SA-V, thanks for the groan on the post - seriously? would love to hear what was contentious about asking where an outdoor non-smoking patio might be?!

Ahha, well clearly you need a bigger balcony. Like most of the finer things in life, you need money to pay for them.

My 65m2 balcony is free from any neighbourly odours, but of course, I smoke there

It works in many parts of California and the restaurants are still open there.

We do not eat out on our balcony for EXACTLY the same reason, unfortunately our apartment is sandwiched between two floors of smokers, we are looking to move but I think unless we move to a house in a middle of a field it is actually going to be very difficult to not have the same problem somewhere else, hopefully the neighbours wil be slightly more friendly though!!

Darcy

But this is not land of the free

Now, this is a CLASSIC thread! Absolutely.

Smoke free outdoor restaurants? Well, that is going to be very difficult to find, as one would have to have such a place situated way off any traffic areas, with no passers-by? No passing busses, cars, trains, or pedestrians.

How far away would any passing smoker (whether exhaling from exhaust, chimney, factory, overhead aircraft, or mouth) have to be in relation to this outdoor eating area so as not to offend the clientele eating there?

Do you really believe that a potential restauranteur would actually go to the expense of investing their personal monies in a venture to attract
non-smokers to eat in their establishment, when, since the present smoking laws have seen a decline in eating establishments due to the non-patronage of non-smokers? (in smaller towns/villages - perhaps not in the cities).

Well, be consoled - Summer is short, and Winter is on it`s way - so outdoor dining will be confined to the hardy smokers anyway, while you may dine in comfort and warmth indoors! And count your blessings that life is not the other way around! Just imagine if Smokers Ruled the World? ..... You`d be having to sit outdoors in minus 10c to eat! or stay at home.

And I look forward to a long and joyful thread to peruse!

My take on it is a little simpler and I think could be solved with a few manners instead of a blanket ban. I've also sat at a nice pavement cafe / lakeside restaurant on the terrace and as soon as my dinner is presented to me, knobhead on the next table sparks up a tab.

Would be nice if they just had a quick glance round and waited until anyone within smoke wafting distance gets most of the way through their carbonara. Please?

I'm keeping my 5 year old from running around like a banshee and wrecking his romantic meal so why shouldn't he return the favour with his smoke?

It's just a bit of consideration all round but I think some of that died when the government decided that daft laws took the onus off people having to think for themselves.

I am not aware of any outdoors non-smoking establishments in Zurich, but as far as neighbors go, perhaps one can try to talk to them? Asking nicely doesn't hurt, the worst case scenario they tell you no.

When I moved in in my current place and met my neighbors (a mix of Swiss and foreigners), I asked them if smoking on my patio would disturb them, and we worked out a solution (smoking in a certain spot away enough from their windows not to bother them) that is beneficial to both parties. I also ended up smoking less, which can't be anything but good anyway

The same neighbors are however happy to oblige me and not blast out their rock music, make major noises, etc. those days when I let them know I am working from home, even though it is during the day and not quiet time. Same story with the laundry: we have no schedule, but if I know a certain person always likes to wash his/her clothes on Saturday morning, I leave the machine free for that person.

I guess my point is: talk to your neighbors and be tolerant of each other. Now back to smoking outside restaurants...I am afraid you'll have to move to California or Washington State for non-smoking outdoors establishments

Lol!

This is totally fair and reasonable point. I certainly try and operate in this way.

Blimey - sorry! I didn't mean to direct that "knobhead" at you.

There are certain restaurants with big patios, which have a smoking and non smoking section but they are extremely rare.

I was a very heavy smoker up until six years ago and I didn't give a toss about what others thought of my habit.
But now I feel embarrassed for my behavior because I know how much it stinks!
(for all smokers: it's like someone constantly breathes in to your face with really bad breath... would you like that?)

At one point we will have smoke free outdoor areas.
There's a vote just now for a law towards this...
and I voted "JA"... MwahahahahaHAHAHAHA!!!

To be fair, I think it is because of a few daft people lacking consideration for other people the government had to do laws. And the rest have to pay for the daft ones.

In Canada, you are not allowed to smoke on terraces or any public sitting area. I think one has to go on the sidewalk at a certain amount of meters of the doors and sitting areas to be able to smoke while in a restaurant or bar. People used to smoke directly in front of the hospital doors and well, I am pretty sure we agree, it is daft. So they had to make a law of something of 25 meters smoke free all around hospitals (not sure about the meters)

The "patio" area of a restaurant is still considered the private property of the restaurant, right? (At least in general- I don't think it would be the case for the sidewalk restaurants in the middle of large cities like Zurich; the sidewalk is public...) If the restaurant owner wants to post "no-smoking signs" on the patio that s/he owns, more power to her/him. I don't see the need for laws or protracted debate; if there's a market for it (smoke-free outdoor seating), hopefully it'll get filled. If there's question about the boundaries, perhaps some attractive fencing or shrubbery would make it more obvious. Many outdoor restaurants already use these things to prevent diners from easily wandering off before their tab is settled.

Oh I didn't think it was it just made me laugh, not seen/heard it in a while

No it's not.

But if it is for some, tough, MwahahahahaHAHAHA

Plus it depends what is being smoked