Wording on a sign

Tabnabs

In the 40 Foot Pub in Dun Laoghaire, they have a lovely outdoor balcony. I notice a sign inside that says "Please refrain from smoking on the balcony". Just idle curiosity on my part, but is this sign simply a request or are they legally entitled to enforce a smoking ban on the outdoor balcony?

L1011

If it's their property, yes.

Uno my Uno.

the Balcony is their property so yes, they are entitled to prevent you from smoking there.

Grolschevik

Also, as far as I remember, the legislation actually prohibits smoking within a defined distance from an entrance. Never heard of it being actually enforced, but I'm pretty sure it's in there.

hullaballoo

That seems an odd decision. Why would they want to disallow smoking on what was a purpose-built smoking area?

Do they not have ashtrays on the table outside now, no?

hullaballoo

Wait, is it the upstairs balcony? The narrow one with a few tables of two face-to-face? In that case, it's probably to stop people launching cigarettes down onto the outdoors section below or else just to preserve the area for couples out for a meal. I know it's Whetherspoons but not everyone can afford to pay more than a fiver for a pint and a curry but they still deserve romance in their lives uninterrupted by second-hand smoke.

coylemj

Tabnabs wrote: »

.... is this sign simply a request or are they legally entitled to enforce a smoking ban on the outdoor balcony?

Technically it's a request but if you ignore it and light up, they would be well within their rights to ask you to leave. If that's what you mean by 'enforce' then the answer is yes.

Owners of private property can't really 'enforce' in the way that Gardai do like arrest or physically restrain you, their only legal remedy is to simply boot you out, politely of course.

nuac

hullaballoo wrote: »

Wait, is it the upstairs balcony? The narrow one with a few tables of two face-to-face? In that case, it's probably to stop people launching cigarettes down onto the outdoors section below or else just to preserve the area for couples out for a meal. I know it's Whetherspoons but not everyone can afford to pay more than a fiver for a pint and a curry but they still deserve romance in their lives uninterrupted by second-hand smoke.

Would not consider a pint and a curry to be a romantic meal

Uno my Uno.

nuac wrote: »

Would not consider a pint and a curry to be a romantic meal

Everything is relative.

hullaballoo

nuac wrote: »

Would not consider a pint and a curry to be a romantic meal

It very much is when it's your only night out every six months because you've shot all the rest of your money up your arm.

Victor

Grolschevik wrote: »

Also, as far as I remember, the legislation actually prohibits smoking within a defined distance from an entrance.

Not a defined distance as such, but within such distance that smoke could enter the building.

Given that it seems to be owned by a UK operator, they may be using UK rules, which are stricter in certain regards.

I'm simplifying things here, but in Ireland, if somewhere has a roof, smoking is only allowed if more than 50% of the perimeter is open to the air. As I understand the UK situation, a roofed smoking are is only allowed one wall.

ted1

nuac wrote: »

Would not consider a pint and a curry to be a romantic meal

But you ok with wetherspoons been a romantic venue ??