Smoking At Atlanta Airport: Where To Light Up?

As of January 2020, smoking and vaping are prohibited inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The City of Atlanta passed an ordinance banning smoking and vaping indoors, including in departure lounges, concourses, and terminals. However, designated smoking areas can be found outside the domestic and international terminals, located at least 25 feet from the entrances. These areas can be found on the lower level near doors LN1, LN2, N3, N4, S4, S5, S6, and S7. Anyone violating the ordinance is subject to a civil penalty of up to a $200 fine.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is smoke-free

As of January 2020, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a smoke-free facility. The City of Atlanta passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping inside the airport, with all smoking rooms inside the airport now closed. This ordinance was passed with the health, safety, and welfare of the travelling public in mind.

While the airport itself is smoke-free, there are designated smoking areas outside the domestic and international terminals, located at least 25 feet from the terminal entrances. These areas can be found on the lower level near doors LN1, LN2, N3, N4, S4, S5, S6, and S7. It is important to note that if you wish to smoke after passing through security, you will need to exit the airport and go through security again upon your return.

Smoking inside the airport is strictly prohibited, including all forms of tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and e-cigarettes. Violators caught smoking inside the airport premises are subject to a civil penalty of up to a $200 fine and will be required to extinguish their cigarettes or dispose of their tobacco products promptly.

For travellers who are unable to locate the designated smoking areas or who wish to avoid smoking altogether, nicotine replacement products such as patches, gum, lozenges, sprays, and inhalers are available as alternatives. These products can help manage nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms while travelling or awaiting a flight.

Designated smoking zones outside terminals

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a smoke-free environment. In 2019, the Atlanta City Council passed an ordinance that prohibits smoking and vaping inside the airport. This includes smoking in departure lounges, concourses, and terminals. However, there are designated smoking areas outside the domestic and international terminals. These designated smoking zones are located at least 25 feet from the terminal entrances.

For the domestic terminal, smokers can find designated areas on the North Lower Level and the North Main Level. At the North Main Level, smokers can occupy the area between Doors N3 and N4. At the South Main Level, the designated smoking areas are between Doors S1 and S2, and between Doors S4 and S5.

For the international terminal, smokers can find designated areas on the Upper Level and the Lower Level. On the Upper Level, the designated smoking areas are at Doors D1 and D3. On the Lower Level, the designated smoking areas are at Doors A1 and A3.

It is important to note that persons under the age of 18 are prohibited from smoking in these designated areas. Additionally, if you wish to smoke after passing through security, you will need to exit the airport and go through security again upon your return.

Smokers at the airport can also purchase cigarettes at the newsstands, convenience stores, and duty-free shops within the terminals. However, smoking is strictly prohibited inside the airport, and violators will be subject to a civil penalty of up to a $200 fine.

No smoking in departure lounges, concourses, and terminals

Smoking is strictly prohibited within the confines of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This includes all departure lounges, concourses, and terminals. The Atlanta City Council passed an ordinance in 2019, banning smoking and vaping indoors, which led to the closure of all smoking lounges within the airport. As a result, smoking is not permitted in any indoor areas of the airport.

The ordinance was enforced to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of travellers and airport employees. Second-hand smoke exposure has been a concern for many, and the closure of smoking lounges is a step towards creating a healthier environment for all. The City of Atlanta is committed to providing a safe and comfortable experience for everyone passing through the airport.

While there are no designated smoking areas inside the airport, travellers who wish to smoke can find designated smoking zones outside the terminals. These areas are located at least 25 feet away from the terminal entrances, on the lower level near doors LN1, LN2, N3, N4, S4, S5, S6, and S7. It is important to note that travellers who have already passed through security will need to exit the airport and go through security procedures again if they wish to smoke in these designated outdoor areas.

For those who need nicotine replacement, there are alternatives available. The airport offered a 30-day accommodation program where passengers with limited access to exterior smoking zones were provided with lozenges. Additionally, there are several FDA-approved nicotine replacement products available, such as patches, gum, lozenges, sprays, and inhalers. These products help manage nicotine cravings and reduce intake over time.

The Atlanta Police Department enforces the City of Atlanta's smoking ordinance, and anyone found violating the rules will be subject to a civil penalty of up to a $200 fine. The airport has posted signs and made announcements to inform travellers about the smoking ban and the designated smoking areas outside the terminals.

A $200 fine for violating the no-smoking ordinance

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is now a smoke-free environment. The City of Atlanta has passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping inside the airport, with designated smoking areas outside of the terminals. This ordinance is enforced by the Atlanta Police Department, and persons who violate the ordinance are subject to a civil penalty of up to a $200 fine.

The decision to prohibit smoking and vaping inside the airport was made to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of the travelling public. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas outside of the domestic and international terminals. These designated smoking zones are located at least 25 feet from the terminal entrances.

The smoking ordinance defines smoking as inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying a lighted tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco. Vapor products are also included in the ordinance and are defined as any non-combustible product containing nicotine that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means to produce vapor from nicotine.

The Atlanta Airport smoking fine of $200 is a significant amount and is meant to deter people from smoking in prohibited areas. It is important to note that the ordinance is in place to protect the health and safety of everyone in the airport, and violating the ordinance can have financial consequences.

It is crucial for travellers who smoke to be aware of the designated smoking areas and to comply with the airport's smoking regulations. By respecting the designated smoking zones and considering other travellers and airport staff, smokers can help maintain a healthy and comfortable environment for all.

Nicotine replacement products as an alternative to smoking

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has been a smoke-free environment since 1 January 2024, when it closed all its smoking areas to comply with a city-wide ordinance banning smoking and vaping inside. As a result, travellers who wish to smoke must go to the designated smoking areas outside of the domestic and international terminals, at least 25 feet from the terminal entrances.

Quitting smoking can be challenging due to the addictive nature of nicotine, but there are various nicotine replacement products available that can help you quit. These products provide nicotine without the harmful components of cigarettes, reducing withdrawal side effects and curbing cravings.

One option is nicotine patches, which are typically made of latex and are applied to the upper body, providing a steady dose of nicotine. They come in different doses that can be reduced over time. Another alternative is nicotine gum, which should be chewed and then parked between the teeth or cheek for 5 to 10 seconds, and then chewed again. This process is repeated for a total of 20 to 30 minutes.

Nicotine lozenges are also available in different doses and sizes. They dissolve in the mouth, providing a dose of nicotine while also keeping your mouth busy, reducing the temptation to smoke. Additionally, nicotine nasal spray is used by letting the spray sit in the nostril, allowing nicotine to be absorbed into the lining of the nose and then the bloodstream.

For those who have tried other methods without success, e-cigarettes or vapes can be considered a harm reduction tool. However, it is important to note that they still contain nicotine and can lead to continued dependence.

Prescription medications such as Varenicline and Bupropion are also effective quitting tools. Varenicline acts like nicotine on the brain without containing any, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Bupropion, on the other hand, blocks nicotine receptors in the brain.

Remember, it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any nicotine replacement therapy or medication. They can provide guidance and support throughout your journey to quit smoking.

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