# Cigarettes in the drive through. (Or: is Mr. Krebbs a big fat jerk?) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 26, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436 "2009-04-26T22:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/141 "2009-04-29T10:27:27Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Right, the polite police. No, more like the “I refuse to be choked by someone’s poison” police, if you must name it. > > As to the cig being in the non-window hand…Oh brother. Again, as many other posters have stated, the window is open, unless he somehow magically manages to conduct his transaction from within a closed vehicle, ergo, smoke will be exiting the vehicle. > > As to “wind” yes, because it’s always present and always blowing the correct way.:rolleyes: Not always, but consider (a) that the cigarette is well inside the car, (b) it’s “idling” and not being actively smoked, (c) that there exists at least a foot between the car and the cashier window, and (d) most of the smoke getting outside of the car is going to be well dissipated before reaching that window, and I think it’s pretty clear that the cashier isn’t suffering some undue burden. You might want to re-think your polite policing, by the way. Noble as it may be, the cashier is likely to be more perturbed by your waiting after you’ve conducted your transaction than by potential exposure to 20 seconds of dissipated secondhand smoke. Most fast food staff is judged on average transaction time, and if you’re holding up the line, you’re going to have a negative impact on their average. So while your intent may be to spare them, I imagine 9 cashiers out of 10 will want you to just move the hell on and let them serve the next order. As to your personal disgust of having smoke from someone else’s car blow into your car, be it in front or behind them, that’s just beyond absurd. What you’re inhaling in exhaust from a non-smoker’s car is going to be worse for you than any smoke that somehow manages to even get into your window from a smoker’s car. But, hey, you’re on the case, right? I guess it pings on your meter somewhere between “I’m irritated by it enough to hold up a line and self-police the crowd” and “I’m irritated by it enough to actually call the police to report a crime being committed” (in those areas where smoking x feet from a window is illegal). ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/142 "2009-04-29T13:32:32Z")
So this is not about dumping ashtrays in the drivethru lane, but about having a lit ciggie in your car in the drivethru? Crazy! For all about 10seconds does the cashier deal with a customer before shutting his little Drivethru window, how can they get so worked up over random smells when they work in a greasy, smelly place like Taco Hell? Look for the carcinogens in that dbl beefy cheesy burrito, I just wish the restaurants would empty their garbage cans that they have at the menu boards, and get rid of those chirpy prerecorded greetings when there is really a sullen lazy dolt behind the facade. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/143 "2009-04-29T13:37:33Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Your fucking car is on THEIR property, so they can forbid you from doing anything they want. Actually they are just employees there. How do you know the corporation cares one way or the other? The company may just want to move product and don’t care if employees suck smoke as long as food gets sold. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/144 "2009-04-29T16:14:13Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > Granted, I live in Washington state and smoking anywhere near the drive through window is probably illegal; this is not the issue. Correct. The issue is _why_ the activity is illegal. Smoke does waft you know, especially with those wild Northwestern winds; so the activity isn’t confined to your automobile, or to your lungs. Do you also have a 3-year-old child riding up front with no safety seat? It’s illegal, but that’s not the issue. No one’s going to tell you what to do with _your_ child in _your_ car. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/145 "2009-04-29T16:39:54Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Smoke does waft you know, especially with those wild Northwestern winds; so the activity isn’t confined to your automobile, or to your lungs. Without offering a supporting cite, I suggest that the stronger the “waft,” the more rapidly the smoke disperses, rendering it nigh impossible to inhale with sufficient concentration to actually do any damage to your lungs (beyond the normal damage done by normal air pollution)—thus, more of a minor annoyance than a legitimate health risk. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/146 "2009-04-29T17:36:44Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Actually they are just employees there. How do you know the corporation cares one way or the other? The company may just want to move product and don’t care if employees suck smoke as long as food gets sold. No the employee can ask you to leave. If the employees actions are not in the interest of the company that’s between them. As an assistant manager for Home Depot I had the police escort people off the property. The police don’t call up the store manager at home and check if I had that authority or consult the stockholders first. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/147 "2009-04-29T17:41:13Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > It wouldn’t work anyway. Our city ordinances state that smokers must be 40 feet from any public entrance. And yet they smoke right in front of the doors anyway. There’s a guy in our building who lights up as he’s exiting the elevator and going out into the lobby. And where are the ashtrays, eh? ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/148 "2009-04-29T18:00:35Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > No the employee can ask you to leave. If the employees actions are not in the interest of the company that’s between them. > > As an assistant manager for Home Depot I had the police escort people off the property. The police don’t call up the store manager at home and check if I had that authority or consult the stockholders first. My experience suggests that most fast food employees already know that they aren’t empowered to make such decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/149 "2009-04-29T18:04:59Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Without offering a supporting cite, I suggest that the stronger the “waft,” the more rapidly the smoke disperses, rendering it nigh impossible to inhale with sufficient concentration to actually do any damage to your lungs (beyond the normal damage done by normal air pollution)—thus, more of a minor annoyance than a legitimate health risk. And in a dead calm, the smoke rises straight up. It has been a while since I smoked a cigarette, but I wasn’t aware there are many brands who shoot their smoke like jet exhaust directly into the face of the nearest non-smoker. It’s a cigarette, not a laser-guided missile. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/150 "2009-04-29T18:06:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > And where are the ashtrays, eh? Usually the ashtrays, if any, are in the legitimate smoking areas. Sometimes there are ashtrays at the entrance, but that’s for those jerks who insist on smoking while they walk to the entrance, they are only there because otherwise said jerks will just drop the cig and usually not even grind it out with a shoe. > [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > My experience suggests that most fast food employees already know that they aren’t empowered to make such decisions. Most fast food places DO allow their employees to tell someone to get out of the business, if the customer is nasty enough. Of course, the problem here is whether someone is nasty enough. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/151 "2009-04-29T18:21:47Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Most fast food places DO allow their employees to tell someone to get out of the business, if the customer is nasty enough. Of course, the problem here is whether someone is nasty enough. Granted, I don’t have firsthand experience of working in a fast food restaurant, but I don’t think we’re going to get any good cites of McDonald’s team member policy in this regard. I’d be absolutely floored if company policy wasn’t to escalate the situation to the manager on site first, absent any threatening or disruptive behavior. Were I a McManager, and a drive thru employee came to me advising that a customer smoking a cigarette well inside his vehicle refused to put it out upon request, my first task would be to go apologize to the customer. After that, I’d take “Drive thru chick” (as she has been so dubbed in this thread) off drive thru and put her on inside register duty. ---
**Author:** ![Coup\_Fourre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@Coup\_Fourre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coup_Fourre)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/152 "2009-04-29T18:58:09Z")
Ok, ok. I am a smoker. I consider myself a considerate smoker. I always use “smoking areas,” I use the ashtray in my car and I do look out for non-smokers if I am smoking in a public area. However, to side with the OP for a moment…I think what’s happening with the majority of smokers is that we’re pretty much not liked by the majority of the world. I do understand. It is a terrible habit that I wish to quit someday (soon), but it is EXTREMELY difficult. Enough of that. I would have been taken aback if the cashier at the drive-thru said something to me. The Manager of said Taco Bell should post a sign at the drive-thru: “Please note that smoking is not allowed (or against the law) within 25 ft. of our restaurant. Please refrain from smoking while in the drive-thru.” Done deal. No cashier should be talking (nay TELLING) anyone smoking what to do. It is the Manager’s responsibility to make customers aware. If I were the manager, I would have told this woman to never address any customer in any way which could be considered rude. It’s just BAD business. Non-smokers…I do understand that there are extremely rude smokers. I see it, too and it pisses me off because, shit, if these people had even a modicum of courtesy, we wouldn’t be so at odds with each other. The bad ones have ruined it for the good ones. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/153 "2009-04-29T19:51:03Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Not even in a Gas station? Let’s not be silly here, that’s just plain dumb and dangerous, and your bullets flying, etc examples hardly apply to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/154 "2009-04-29T21:52:40Z")
I feel obligated to point out that “Krebs” means cancer in German. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/155 "2009-04-30T09:53:08Z")
> [@Mr.Krebbs](#): > > Somehow I doubt that smoking a cigarette in one’s car at the pump could pose a problem; it’s the whole exiting the car and being near a gas tank exuding fumes that causes problems. What do you think if an employee tells you to get off your cell phone at the gas pump? > > Plenty of cars go through a fast food drive through during an 8 hour shift. However, considering something like 21% of Americans smoke, only one of five customers would be a smoker. Guess how much less likely it would be that every smoker encountered would actually be smoking? > > So I don’t think smokers in the drive through pose any significant risk or inconvenience. At least not so much of an inconvenience that an employee should bother me about it. > > Um, yes, I do. The Washington state smoking laws, for instance, are laughable. I’m probably within 25 of a door or window every time I smoke on campus and I pass doors and windows plenty often when I’m walking down the street. If you find the laws laughable then try and get them changed,you live in a democracy. Theres always the risk that other people with much worse character traits then the norm will excuse their much more anti social actions with exactly the same excuse and I dont think that would comfort you much if you or your loved ones were the victims of a serious crime or even for that matter a not so serious crime. “So why did you pissup against \*\*Mr Krebbs \*\*car door ?” “Well I was desperate to go,and its not exactly murder is it so whats all the fuss about?and anyway he breaks minor laws himself so he cant complain” You may say that smoking near an entrance is a penny ante offence but we’re not talking about the offence here,we’re talking about the principal of ignoring/disobeying laws that you personally do not approve of. I grew up on a very violent,crime ridden estate in England where people who mugged others or committed violent robberies also excused themselves because it suited their purposes. Its a slippery slope… ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/156 "2009-04-30T15:53:43Z")
> [@nameless](#): > > … Thirty seconds of faint wisps of smoke is not going to kill you unless you’re one of those severely allergic to smoke types, and those people are more rare than they claim to be. :dubious: I am not allergic to cigarette smoke, it is an asthma trigger for me. It is not a rare thing that it is an asthma trigger for many other people with asthma. It is not the same thing as an allergy and it can leave you gasping for air and it’s scary. Smokers seem to think that a lot of these people are putting on an act and it’s not that bad, but it really is that bad. Strangely, not all cigarette smoke sets me off, I’ve been around some people who are smoking and it doesn’t bother me as long as the smoke doesn’t come directly at me and other times I’ve been around people who are not currently smoking but reek of cigarette smoke and they set me off, so I don’t know if it’s a matter of certain types of cigarettes or my lungs just being more sensitive on some days. Still I prefer not to be around any cigarettes or smokers so I don’t have to find out which it’s going to be. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/157 "2009-04-30T22:12:16Z")
> [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > Granted, I don’t have firsthand experience of working in a fast food restaurant, but I don’t think we’re going to get any good cites of McDonald’s team member policy in this regard. I’d be absolutely floored if company policy wasn’t to escalate the situation to the manager on site first, absent any threatening or disruptive behavior. Weather the employee is authorized or not is irrelevant. Policy’s on escalation and authorization is internal and in short none of a customers business in this instance. The employee is legally allowed to ask people to leave and you are legally obligated to oblige. The action or failure to escalate may be a violation of company policy and may result in termination for that employee but once again none of your business other then it being a major customer service issue. In this case ‘drive through chick’ may have been the manager on duty, who knows. I see it as she made a reasonable request asking someone to stop doing something they have no legal right to do. The person felt this request was unreasonable. The danger level of the smoke is not the issue here. The customer receiving the request could have complained and/or asked to speak to a manager or make a complaint at a later date. If the response to the complaint is not reasonable/favorable to him he could stop doing business there or change his personal habit when shopping there. I think both parties could chill out a bit. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/158 "2009-04-30T23:59:43Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Weather the employee is authorized or not is irrelevant. Policy’s on escalation and authorization is internal and in short none of a customers business in this instance. The employee is legally allowed to ask people to leave and you are legally obligated to oblige. The action or failure to escalate may be a violation of company policy and may result in termination for that employee but once again none of your business other then it being a major customer service issue. All really irrelevant to this particular situation, since Mr. Krebbs didn’t get to the point where he was asked to leave. > [@](#): > > I see it as she made a reasonable request asking someone to stop doing something they have no legal right to do. The person felt this request was unreasonable. The danger level of the smoke is not the issue here. A reasonable request, perhaps, but I don’t think it rude of Mr. Krebbs to politely decline. If she is truly bothered further, her correct course of action should be to escalate the issue to her supervisor for action (or outright tell Mr. Krebbs to leave if allowed by her internal policy), or call the police to report a crime being committed. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436/159 "2009-05-01T03:41:21Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me. > > Yes, you’re a self absorbed jerk. He needs to be _told_ this, given that he was eatin’ a butt with one hand and “masturbating like a motherfuck” with the other, _in the drive-thru?_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-in-the-drive-through-or-is-mr-krebbs-a-big-fat-jerk/494436.md?page=7)