[joeysteele]

Smokers are only having to congregate outside because they are not allowed to smoke inside pubs and clubs etc,
I know most people are far more intimated by a group of people drinking outside the doorway as opposed to smokers smoking.

Most smokers go out together to carry on conversations while smoking,I don't smoke, have many firends who do and if I am talking to them on a topic inside, should they want to go out and have a cigarette,I would go with them, in doing so I guess I would likely be seen by zippy as being one of the new crack addicts he descibes for being seen doing so despite not even having a cigarette.

Of course smokers have rights, just as people have the right to make judgements on them for doing so, even if their judgements are borne out of prejudice and are wrong.
I'd rather be around a load of smokers than people with really prejudiced views, that's for sure.

Mind you, I often find ex-smokers are the worst now for criticising smokers.