Premises

[sidkid]

All the no smoking signs say - IN THESE PREMISES
Surely it should be - ON THESE PREMISES
any thoughts?

[THECORBYLOON]

Premises is defined as a building and its grounds and you'd be in a building rather than on it. Having said that but, folk are normally escorted off the premises rather than out the premises. I would say both are correct.

[Quizmonster]

On the basis outlined above by TCL, I'd say that the associated building and all the floors within it - as well as any garden/yard etc - are on the land defined as "the premises". Accordingly, wherever one can stand within the boundaries, one is "on" the premises. Hence, "off" is the appropriate word to use of anyone removed therefrom.
However, if the building has no associated land outside its walls...eg it is part of a terrace with neither front nor back garden...there is nothing actually wrong with using "in these premises".
I agree with TCL that both are possible in accord with the particular circumstances.

[heathfield]

Or perhaps 'within' these premises?

[Bert]

I agree with sidkid. For sales of alcohol there used to be off-licences and on-licences. The sign over the door would say "John Smith licensed to sell [alcohol] for consumption on [or off] the premises". I have put the word 'alcohol' in brackets because I think it used to say something like 'alcoholic spirits, ale and porter." The wording of the notice is actually prescribed in the legislation, though the word 'premises' can be substituted with a more specific word, such as 'hotel' or 'gymnasium'. Does anybody else agree with me that these signs are (i) really unnecessary - you don't have signs up in shops saying 'it is illegal to shoplift in these premises; (ii) really annoying, as, once you've seen it, you cannot help but read it, even though you know what it says.

[squarebear]

But surely if you were "on" the premises, you would be sat on the roof?

[Fink-Knottle]

Nothing wrong with the sign-the authors are accurately informing you that you can't smoke 'in' the premises,but can smoke 'out' even though the beer-garden,patio or whatever is a constituent part of the premises.

In my view, an accurate communication and therefore grammatically correct.

[27front]

Is it to do with the new No Smoking Policy which states if an area of space has three walls and a roof you are not allowed to smoke there, therefore it would be in not on.