Not an excuse.
As a smoker, when I had nowhere to dispose of the butt, I pinched off the cherry and brought the butt inside and disposed of it into a waste basket.
As a non-smoker, I abhore that because the smell of rotten butts in a kitchen waste bin is just *barf* wretch-worthy.

I've had smokers come stand right next to me and light up without a care in the world. I looked around. Nope. not standing next to an ashtray. In fact... why are they even standing next to me in the first place? It's not like there's NOWHERE else to stand. I'm not even standing in a crowd. In fact... I'm standing next to a doorway of a shoppe and they shouldn't even be lighting up there anyway!!! WTF?!?!?

e.g.???

__________________
I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies. - Pietro Aretino

If smokers aren't meant to smoke in store doorways, why do the stores put ashtrays there?

Honestly, haven't we beaten this topic to death?

Yes, smoking is dangerous.

Yes, smoking around non-smokers, children, pregnant women is rude and dangerous for their health.

No, smokers will never quit smoking.

Some people smoke, and some people don't. Basta.

Because the realists often beat the optimists.

If it's against the law to drive faster than the speed limit, why are all the cops out there handing out tickets?

Honestly, I think those ashtrays are intended for those who are arriving while smoking and tossing their cigarette before they enter.

I assume this would be the majority of the smokers (how many smokers enter the store, then leave for a cigarette break). Of course this overlooks the smokers who get to the door then decided to light up.

But otherwise the majority (those smoking en route, and have to butt-out before entering) would just ditch the cigarette on the floor at the door way.

I think it's rather logical placement.

Please look back to he forth post.

What I don't understand about this statement at all is your reasoning for reading and/or posting here if you believe the above. Go away. You don't have to listen to us grumbling and moaning. Its the internet. Click almost anywhere on the screen and you'll be magically morphed to another page. Its amazing.

not an excuse possibly, but THE reason

California introduced strong anti-smoking laws years before most of the country, so it's more of a no-no there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...2.A0California

In addition, California imposes heavy fines for littering, which may be what the reference was all about?:
http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d18/vc42001_7.htm

I am surprised the Swiss do not have a littering fine (or do they?). At least in Zurich, there is garbage everywhere (cigarettes, bottles, etc.), and I'd imagine it would be much worse if it were not cleaned up so often. I wonder how much money is spent cleaning up all that litter.

On another note, it's not just littering in public places. How about neighbors who think it's perfectly acceptable to throw their garbage down into our garden for me to clean up (hopefully, before my 2-year-old finds it). In half a year, I picked up enough used cigarettes, match sticks, candle wax, old food, etc. to fill a trash bag.

Well, according to a government study published in August this year, exactly 192 Million a year nationwide, 25% of which (48 Mio) alone on public transport.

Summary of study at BAFU (in german)

Actually, New England is far harsher on the scale of treating smokers like pariah, much more so than California. Many places in MA and other NE states have laws prohibiting smoking on beaches, playgrounds, in cars with children, on sidewalks, etc. and you don't dare light up anywhere in public. I saw more people smoking in public in California the last time I was there two years ago then in Boston metro. Laws are good, but the hysteria driven by the dubious second-hand smoke studies have driven people to self-enforce which appears to be much more effective.

Lol you won't be on your own, I will be standing next to you. My all time favourite one is someone standing outside a bus/train smoking their crap into the train,disposing of their ciggy then stepping onto train to breath the last of their foulness into the air.

Darcy

OK, but in all fairness, this IS the Complaints corner. Complaining that someone complained in the complaints corner seems a bit meritless.

disgusting behaviour indeed, but a matter of a few minutes ..... many smokers have their "smells" with them .. oh well, but let's not get extreme about such things ....

Many non-smokers have their "smells" with them, as well - but I find garlic-infused sweat smells nicer than old (& not-so-old) smoke. Don't really like the smell of other people's sweat, though ...

The worst is the garlic/coffee/smoke/armpit smell! All in one person!

Well, other than the lack of armpit smell, you're pretty much describing my wife!

Tom

I hope she doesn't read the forum!