Should We Relax Smoking Restrictions In Large Airports?

Posted on May 27, 2008
Filed Under Smoking |

I know that this idea may be seen as controversial by many people and I await the day that each and every smoker could quit smoking but please hear me out. A couple of weeks ago I was transferring thru London Heathrow International, but I was forced to wait for one night and had to take a hotel for the night. I saw a few cigarette smokers in an outdoor smoking area and being in no hurry to grab a shuttle going to my hotel I thought I may as well ask each of them their stance on smoking laws in airports. The answers provided were surprising plus well thought out.

Each and every one of them stated they saw no problem with the non-smoking laws in their everyday lives, and see no trouble with stepping out for a cigarette at restaurants, bars, or at work, and so on. However something they do take issue with is that there are no facilities in the secure areas at international airports and I started to see their point.

I was advised by most to consider the fact that may possibly been on a long distance flight and then transferring to another plane. Thus if they wished to going out to have a cigarette they were faced with quite a difficulty. First thing leave the departure and arrival gate area as well as they may be required to pass through border control. Then a smoking area needs to be found. Then after finishing their cigarette they need to face airport security and if going international again another round with passport and border control, all the while lugging their cabin baggage with them.

So that got me thinking, why isn’t there an area for smokers in the departure lounge like there were before? There are and were some excellent examples to look at which had well designed ventilation along with a system producing negative air pressure. These systems worked so well that you had to almost be sitting on top of them to take note of the smell of smoke. Or better yet would be to design an outdoor smoking area. Once I transferred through Miami International I saw quite an interesting place to have a smoke in the area past security. It was a little courtyard outside yet still within the secure area of the terminal. Thus couldn’t we make something similar or an outdoor balcony?

Since airports are a different situation and totally unlike run-of the mill, daily life isn’t it possible for us to give the cigarette addicts a little leeway? What do you think, should we ease the smoking restrictions in airports?

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