written by on 06/07/2010
I popped in to Pret a Manger for a coffee today thinking I could sit outside and enjoy a ciggie with my coffee. I'd been shopping and fancied a sit down, coffee and smoke but to my surprise when I went outside to grab a seat all the tables had 'No Smoking' signs on them! Now, I know smoking has been banned but us smokers only have the outdoors in which to indulge our habit and have endured cold, wet and windy weather on many occasions when all the non-smokers are snug and warm inside. A bit of decent weather and the non-smokers want to sit outside and I don't object to that but why should smokers be penalised once again? I feel this is an infringement of my human rights - you would not be allowed to put signs on tables banning people based on race, religion, size or any form of disability but smokers are treated worse than any other section of society! As it happened most of the tables were empty but a few doors down Starbucks was full! Anyway, I took the coffee back and said I would like a refund which was not a problem for the staff and I was also informed that I could keep the coffee, which I refused and went elsewhere. Needless to say I will not be returning.