At Issue, Could We Quit Smoking Prohibitions At The Departure Gates At Hub Airports

With out a doubt this statement could be considered controvertial by many people and I wish that all smokers in the world could manage to quit smoking right now however bear with me. Recently I was connecting via Londons Heathrow, and was delayed for one day and had to take a hotel. Spotting some people smoking in front of the terminal and having some time on my hands before having to jump on the bus going to our hotel for the night I saw the chance to ask each of them their point of view on the smoking bans in airport terminals. Their responses were to the point plus insightful.

Each and every one of them attested they had no trouble coping with the non-smoking laws in their everyday lives and see no problem with going outside for a cigarette at restaraunts, bars, or at work, and so on. However they do have a problem in that there are no smoking areas provided in the secure areas at international airports and I started to understand.

I was told by most to understand that they might have had to take long distance flight then going on another flight once more. Thus if they wanted to step outside to smoke a cigarette they were confronted with a dificulty. First thing exit the gate area and also they may be required to pass through passport control. Then a smoking area has to be found. Then after finishing their cigarette it is neccesary to go through airport security and perhaps another round with passport and border control, all the while dragging their cabin luggage around.

So I thought, why not a section to smoke inside the secure area like there used to be? There used to be some excellent ones with good ventilation along with a negative air pressure system. These were so good that you had to almost be sitting on top of them to take note of the smell of smoke. A still better idea would be to erect an outdoor area to smoke a cigarette. On one trip I went through the airport in Miami I noticed a novel smoking area inside the area past security. It was a small courtyard outside yet still within the secure area of the terminal. So couldn't the airport authorities construct the same type of thing such as an outdoor balcony?

Because airports are a different situation and different from day-to-day life isn't it possible for us to give the smokers a little leeway in this case?

What do you think Please take part in my poll: Should we stop smoking bans in major airports? I will publish the results once a good representation has been received.