The flagship international airport in the U.S. state of South Carolina has prohibited vaping and smoking.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Associated Press reports that leadership at the Charleston International Airport has adopted a smoke-free, campus-wide policy that covers prohibitions on smoking and vaping. A press statement from the airport’s administration notes that the policy is “an effort to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of the traveling public.”
The smoke-free policy entered force as of September 1, 2021. The ban includes all enclosed public spaces outside of the terminals, the airport shuttles, sidewalks, rest areas, public and employee parking lots, and other buildings and facilities owned by the airport and the airport authority.
Charleston International Airport will be 100% smoke-free as of September 1, 2021. This ban includes all enclosed public spaces, outside of the terminal, shuttles, sidewalks, rest areas, public and employee parking lots, and other Airport Authority buildings and facilities. pic.twitter.com/CulnRYBWc2
— Charleston International Airport (@iflyCHS) September 1, 2021
“Our mission is to make the airport campus a safe and healthy environment for travelers, guests, and workers,” said Elliott Summey, the chief executive officer of Charleston International Airport, in the same press statement. “The health risks associated with secondhand smoke are irrefutable. Creating a smoke-free environment at CHS will help us achieve this goal.”
Charleston County Aviation Authority, the managing public agency that owns and operates the civilian and non-military components of the Charleston International Airport, has outlined that the ban will include cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, puff bars, and any device or inhalant that delivers smoke or vapor.
“A previous CDC study documented that secondhand smoke travels from designated smoking areas into nonsmoking areas in airports, where nonsmoking travelers and employees can be exposed,” notes the airport leadership in the same statement.
While we don’t know for sure that this is the CDC study they cited, a 2017 entry in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that argues for “broader implementation of smoke-free policies at the national, city, or airport authority levels can protect employees and travelers of all ages from secondhand smoke inside airports.”
“Charleston County Aviation Authority Police Department will begin enforcing the ban and individuals who do not comply are subject to fines,” the airport said. “Public announcements will begin immediately through social media, signage, and media outreach. Terminal announcements will be recorded related to no smoking and pre-set to play at regular intervals.”
