Seen in the Commercial Appeal:
Since taking effect Oct. 1, the Non-Smokers Protection Act has prohibited smoking in most enclosed public places. Exemptions include bars and other age-restricted venues and hotels and motels, which are allowed to designate one-fourth of their rooms for smoking. Violations can result in fines of $500 per day.
Some 36 businesses across the state are appealing violation notices, said Carter Garner, assistant director of the division of general environmental health for the Tennessee Department of Health. But Memphis International is one of the highest-profile cases and the only one involving an airport.
Garner said health officials believe smoking can’t be allowed at the airport businesses because “they are enclosed facilities within an enclosed facility.” [...]
At the two bar-restaurants, the airport installed negative-pressure filtration systems designed to suck tobacco smoke outside. Officials say the systems — installed years before the law took effect — make the air as safe or safer than anywhere else in the airport.
You know, with the TSA’s recent emphasis on observing the behavior of airport patrons to spot potential evil-doers, you’d think that there would be a bit of a security emphasis placed on keeping ordinary travelers as relaxed as possible, and traffic passing through security lines reduced to the absolute minimum possible.
I’m not a fan of smoking, but I have been around smokers going through nicotine withdrawal after a long flight… and I’d think that perhaps having an appropriately-ventilated smoking area in the secure area might not be the worst idea in the world.
Heck, the way that airlines have been looking for any way to squeeze out extra revenue…airline-sponsored smoking lounges, anybody?
