Absolutely no doubt this idea could be deemed controversial by many and it is a goal of mine that all smokers could manage to quit smoking however I feel this is a point worth exploring. Just a few weeks ago I was passing through Heathrow Airport, however were delayed for a night and had to stay over in a hotel. Seeing some people smoking in front of the terminal and being in no hurry to jump on the shuttle bus for the hotel I decided I would ask them their stance on smoking laws in the secure areas of airports. Their responses were surprising and well thought out.

Each of them stated they had no problem with smoking bans in their everyday lives and find absolutely no problem with popping out for a cigarette at restaurants, bars, or at work, and so on. However they do not appreciate that there are no facilities around the departure gates at large airports and I started to sympathize.

I was advised by almost all to consider the fact that they may have just got off a long distance flight and then transferring to a flight once more. Therefore if they wished to go outside to have a cigarette they were faced with quite a difficulty. To start with they have to get out of the secure area as well they may be required to pass through passport control. Then a smoking area outside needs to be searched for. Then after finishing it is necessary to face security and maybe another round at passport and border control, while lugging their cabin baggage around.

So that got me thinking, why not a place to smoke in the departure lounge like there were before? I have seen great examples with good air exchange systems plus negative air pressure. These rooms were successful in that you needed to be right in front of them to notice the odor of smoke. A better idea still would be to erect an outdoor smoking area. On one trip I transfered through the airport in Miami I saw quite an interesting smoking area within the secure area. It was a small courtyard out in the open air but still inside the secure area of departures. Thus couldn't the airport authorities make something like this or a balcony?

As airports are a different situation and totally different from normal life maybe we could ease up on the smokers a little in this case?

I have decided to do a bit of a survey on this idea. Please make your views known on whether or not we should stop smoking restrictions in international airports.