MD80 FLT ATTENDANT RPT OF A PAX WHO HAD BEEN SMOKING IN THE LAVATORY.

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PAX IN XX DECIDED TO GO TO THE AFT (L) LAVATORY AND SMOKE. WHEN HE OPENED THE LAVATORY DOOR; THE SMOKE WAS ALL 'TOO' OBVIOUS. I FOLLOWED HIM TO HIS SEAT AFTER CHKING OUT THE LAVATORY. I ASKED HIM WHERE HE EXTINGUISHED HIS CIGARETTE. HE SAID 'IN HIS CIGARETTE HOLDER.' I TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF ALL ON BOARD. HE SAID HE WAS UNDER STRESS. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND TOOK DOWN HIS INFO. I TOLD HIM HE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A FINE. DOES ANYBODY CARE; OR DO WE WAIT TILL A MAJOR CATASTROPHE OCCURS? THIS ISSUE IS TAKEN TOO LIGHTLY. I WAS FLT ATTENDANT #2. I RPTED IT TO FLT ATTENDANT #1; SO HE COULD INFORM THE CAPT. HE SAID; 'NOTHING EVER HAPPENS TO THESE PEOPLE; AND THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED I RPTED IT TO THE CAPT AND HE SAID IF THEY DISCONTINUE THEIR BEHAVIOR THEN WE DO NOTHING.' WELL; OF COURSE; THEY HAD THEIR CIGARETTE AND THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY. BUT IF NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM -- THEY'LL REMEMBER AND NEXT TIME THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND NEXT TIME; WE MIGHT NOT BE SO FORTUNATE -- LIVES COULD BE LOST. WHY DO WE WASTE OUR TIME ON EVERY FLT DURING OUR SAFETY DEMO; TELLING THEM THAT SMOKING IN THE LAVATORY WILL RESULT IN A FINE IF IT ISN'T TRUE? AND SO WHY SHOULD THEY LISTEN TO ANYTHING WE SAY? THIS NEEDS TO HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES.