Ruth Haines
Smoking in airports has been a topic of contention for public health officials, with many airports worldwide now enforcing smokefree indoor policies. As of 2024, most US hub airports are 100% smokefree indoors, and Memphis International Airport is no exception. While the airport once had designated smoking areas in restaurants and bars, new laws have forced smokers to take their cigarettes outside. This has sparked some controversy, with airport officials arguing that the law would inconvenience connecting passengers, who would have to go through security checkpoints again after smoking outside.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Smoking allowed in Memphis airport | No |
| Smoking allowed in over-21 bars, hotels, and motels | Yes |
| Smoking areas in restaurants and bars | No |
| Smoking areas in airports, a public health hazard | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Smoking indoors at Memphis Airport
Smoking indoors at Memphis International Airport has been a contentious issue. While the airport has challenged certain provisions in Tennessee's Non-Smokers Protection Act, smoking indoors at the airport is not permitted. This is due to the fact that airport facilities are considered "enclosed facilities within an enclosed facility," as stated by Carter Garner of the Tennessee Department of Health. As a result, smokers at the airport must go outside to smoke, which can be inconvenient for connecting passengers who have to re-enter through security checkpoints.
However, it is important to note that this rule does not apply to over-21 bars, hotels, and motels, where smoking is still allowed. Restaurants and bars within the airport that allowed smoking in the past have had to remove this option due to changing laws.
The debate around smoking at Memphis Airport reflects a broader trend in the United States. As of 2024, almost all U.S. hub airports have implemented 100% smokefree indoor policies, including major airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Denver, and JFK. This shift towards smokefree airports is driven by public health concerns and the goal of providing safer air quality for all travelers and airport employees.
While the indoor smoking policy at Memphis Airport may be a challenge for smokers, the airport offers a cell phone waiting lot for those waiting to pick up arriving passengers. This free waiting area is conveniently located less than a minute's drive from the airport terminal, providing an alternative option for those who may need to take a break between connecting flights or during long layovers.
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Smoking outside at Memphis Airport
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors. Memphis International Airport is no exception to this, with no indoor smoking allowed. However, this does not mean that smoking is entirely prohibited at the airport. Over-21 bars, hotels, and motels are exempt from the smoking ban. The airport once challenged some provisions in Tennessee's Non-Smokers Protection Act, and some airport bars have sophisticated ventilation systems that provide safer air-quality levels than required by law. The airport's secured areas are also not considered truly "public" because only ticketed passengers are allowed.
Nevertheless, if you are a smoker planning a visit to Memphis Airport, it is advisable to prepare for the likelihood that you will need to go outside to smoke. This may involve undergoing the inconvenience of re-entering through security checkpoints. While this may be frustrating, especially for connecting passengers, it is a necessary trade-off to protect public health. The challenge of accommodating smokers while maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for all travellers is one faced by airports worldwide as smoking regulations evolve.
Memphis Airport is not unique in its struggle to balance the needs of smokers and non-smokers. The debate over smoking in airports has been ongoing for years, with many airports once providing designated smoking areas in restaurants and bars. However, as more states and cities enact laws prohibiting smoking in public places, even airports are being forced to adapt. While some airports have resisted going smoke-free, it is clear that the trend is moving towards creating healthier, smoke-free environments, as evidenced by the growing number of international airports that are now 100% smokefree.
As a result, smokers travelling through Memphis Airport, as well as other airports, need to be aware of the changing landscape and plan accordingly. This may involve seeking out designated outdoor smoking areas, allowing extra time to pass through security checkpoints again, or considering alternatives to smoking during layovers. While it may be an adjustment, these measures ultimately contribute to improving air quality and reducing the health risks associated with secondhand smoke exposure for all airport users.
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Smoking laws in Tennessee
Smoking laws vary across the United States, and Tennessee has its own specific regulations. Tennessee, a state with historical ties to the tobacco industry, has implemented a range of measures to restrict smoking in public places.
The Tennessee Non-Smoker Protection Act prohibits smoking in certain public spaces, including government buildings and vehicles. The Act defines smoking as, "inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted tobacco product in any manner or form." This definition, however, does not include electronic cigarettes, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
The Act also requires that "No Smoking" signs or the international no-smoking symbol be displayed at every entrance to a public place or workplace where smoking is banned. This includes lobbies, hallways, and other common areas of apartment buildings and multiple-unit residential facilities. Employers and business owners must notify their employees and customers about the smoking prohibition.
There are some exemptions to the law. Private businesses with three or fewer employees may allow smoking in an enclosed room not accessible to the general public, as long as the smoke does not infiltrate smoke-free areas. Restaurants in Tennessee must be smoke-free unless they restrict access to people aged 21 and older at all times. This includes bars within restaurants, but separate smoking rooms within restaurants are not allowed. Bars that are not within restaurants can allow smoking if they restrict access to people aged 21 and over. Smoking is also permitted in designated smoking rooms in hotels and motels, but these must not exceed 25% of the total number of rooms.
In terms of Memphis Airport, it appears that smoking is prohibited indoors. However, as of 2008, there were still restaurants at the airport that allowed smoking, and the airport was contesting the smoking ban. It is unclear whether the airport has designated smoking areas or if smoking is allowed in over-21 bars within the airport.
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Smoking in airports as a public health hazard
Smoking in airports has been a topic of debate for decades, with public health advocates calling for smoke-free policies to protect travellers and employees from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure. While some airports have implemented smoke-free policies, others continue to allow smoking in designated areas, raising concerns about the potential health hazards posed by tobacco smoke pollution.
Smoking in airports has been identified as a prospective public health hazard by various organizations and health authorities. The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, for instance, asserts that smoking in airports is a public health hazard and applauds the efforts of airports that have gone smoke-free. As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors, including major hubs like Chicago O'Hare, Denver, and JFK.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also weighed in on the matter, noting that tobacco smoking is responsible for 9% of deaths globally. Additionally, the WHO highlights the risk of infections spreading in crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces like airports. Small, poorly ventilated designated smoking areas can accelerate the spread of respiratory infections, posing a risk to travellers and employees alike.
Research supports these concerns, with studies finding high levels of secondhand smoke in and around designated smoking rooms (DSRs) in airports. PM2.5 levels, a common measure of secondhand smoke, were found to be extremely high in DSRs, indicating poor air quality and a potential health hazard for those nearby. Furthermore, tobacco smoke contains inflammatory mediators that can cause airway epithelial barrier dysfunction and immediate damage to the respiratory system, as reported by the Surgeon General.
The presence of smoking rooms in airports is a direct result of tobacco industry lobbying. Despite claims of improved ventilation, these rooms do not effectively contain secondhand smoke, which can leak into other areas of the airport. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases for airport workers, and even brief exposure can trigger heart attacks, strokes, or asthma attacks in at-risk individuals.
While some airports, like those in Memphis, have resisted smoke-free policies, citing the inconvenience to connecting passengers and the existence of ventilation systems, the public health risks associated with smoking in airports are undeniable. The progress made by countries like Australia and New Zealand, which have implemented smoke-free regulations in airports, underscores the importance of prioritizing the health and safety of travellers and employees over the convenience of smokers.
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Smoking areas in airports
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, and Newark. Memphis Airport also falls under this category, where smoking is not permitted in public areas. However, designated smoking lounges are available for smokers in airports. These lounges are usually fitted with smoke extractors and are located in the departures terminals. Some airports also provide outdoor smoking areas near ticketing and baggage claim.
Internationally, many airports are now 100% smoke-free, including major Asian hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok. However, there are still airports around the world that provide smoking areas for travellers.
For instance, Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, has a designated smoking area. Mumbai Airport in India has smoking lounges in both the departure and arrival terminals. These lounges are located in Terminal 1 near Belt Five and between Gates 26 and 27 for departures. Terminal 2 locations include Gate 28 for international departures and Gate 47 for domestic departures.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, where smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, has smoking lounges located before and after passport control. The airport also has smoking areas inside airport bars.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you can't smoke inside the Memphis airport. As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smokefree indoors.
No, there are no designated smoking areas inside the Memphis airport. However, smoking may be allowed in certain bars and restaurants inside the airport that restrict entry to individuals over the age of 21.
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smokefree indoors. Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smokefree outdoors.
Smoking inside the Memphis airport is prohibited, and doing so may result in fines or other penalties.
Yes, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport implemented a no-smoking policy in 2020, and Washington Dulles followed suit in 2023.
