Smoking in Victoria is routinely banned in enclosed spaces but not in open or outdoor public or private spaces. At the 2009 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, you are not allowed to smoke in seated grandstands, but you are free to smoke in designated general admission spectator areas. I had a great time at the F1 except for having to move all the time to avoid being forced to inhale poisonous smoke against my will.

When someone fist blew smoke in my direction I would politely ask them to move elsewhere. None could understand why I was asking, and none cared. They indicated that my request was unreasonable and that, as they were not in a smoke free zone, they believed they were free to smoke regardless of the wishes of others because the law is on their side.

When they refused to move I explained that I did not want to consume their poison. Most were bogan retards who could barely make coherent sentences. Some basically told me to get fucked, to which I responded that I hoped they would get cancer and die a slow painful death. Some walked away after that as they were confused and confronted by the degree of my anger at their antisocial behaviour. Some escalated the hostility and I chose to move.

As an experiment I would like to walk around with a can of fly spray and randomly spray it in the faces of smokers. I wonder if they would find that annoying or irritating? How would they like having the air they breathe polluted? How would they cope with being forced to inhale poisonous chemicals against their will?

Why is smoking allowed in general admission spectator areas? The only place it should be allowed is in fenced designated areas away from spectator positions so that spectators are not forced to inhale unwanted smoke. Why do I as a customer of the F1 GP only deserve protection from poisonous smoke if I buy an expensive grandstand seat?

I’m thinking of making a written complaint to the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and also Consumer Affairs Victoria. I think there is a convincing case of discrimination against general admission ticket holders because the AGCP provides a lower level of environmental safety or duty of care to them compared to grandstand ticket holders.

Update 29 April 2009: this is not related to the F1 GP, but a woman standing on a train station platform in Melbourne was punched in the face by a woman smoker who refused to put out her cigarette at the woman’s request. The article does not clarify the law but I believe smoking is not allowed on platforms. What have you whinging smokers got to say now?

Update 2 May 2010: As I have been arguing for some time, smoking in outdoor spaces needs to be regulated and smokers should not be allowed to inflict their poison on others. The world is starting to catch up on the idea.