Billboard campaign warns against proposed DTW cigar lounge

• A public well being coalition launched Billboards close to Detroit Metro Airport towards a proposed cigar lounge, warning for second -hand smoking dangers.
• The Wayne County Airport Authority says that the lounge would come with superior air flow to attenuate the publicity to smoke, including IT enter from the neighborhood.
• Critics declare {that a} cigar lounge may hurt each vacationers and workers at DTW.

A public well being group will increase the strain on the Wayne County Airport Authority to scrap a proposed cigar lounge on the Detroit Metro airport, in order that billboards are launched that warn of smoking dangers of the second hand.

The Detroit Wayne Oakland Tabacco Free Coalition unveiled the Billboards this week alongside Interstates 94 and 275 close to the airport. With a picture of a cough baby in an airport terminal, the indicators are urged by passers -by to “cease the cigar lounge at DTW” and to enchantment to smoking indoor at one of many busiest transport hubs of the state, in keeping with a press launch from the coalition.

Greater than 31 million vacationers handed by DTW in 2023. Proponents of well being care say that the dangers transcend the person alternative.

“Science is evident. There isn’t a secure degree of publicity to second -hand smoke,” mentioned the chairman of the Detroit Most cancers Screening Initiative, Dr. Lawrence Macdonald, within the launch. “Permitting a cigar lounge at DTW wouldn’t solely endanger vacationers, but in addition the well being and security of the 18,000 workers who work there. This proposal flies within the mild of Michigan’s progress when creating smoke -free public environments.”

On the finish of 2024, the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) mentioned that the proposed alternatives of cigar lounge and restaurant concessions may deliver a cigar bar -lounge and restaurant, Meals Corridor and different new developments to the McNamara terminal at DTW.

“We’ve developed the prospect of cigar lounge and restaurant concessions in response to the curiosity of the neighborhood and native corporations, particularly as a result of it pertains to the worldwide character of the airport,” a WCAA spokesperson advised The Free Press.

The smoke -free indoor air regulation of Michigan got here into power in 2010 and forbade indoor smoking in most public locations. Whereas cigar bars and tobacco shops are exempt in keeping with the regulation, critics of the DTW Cigar Lounge declare that the WCAA plan stretches these exemptions and threatens to undermine the smoke-free safety in your entire state.

Members of the coalition say that the proposal additionally lacks transparency and public involvement. A number of have feedback and e -mails submitted to the Airport Authority, however report little response, in keeping with the press launch. Coalition leaders have additionally printed and spoken opinion items throughout month-to-month WCAA conferences. “As a mother or father and frequent traveler, I used to be shocked by the thought of ​​exposing my kids to second -hand smoke whereas I navigated by the airport,” mentioned a resident and older of Michigan, Teferi Brent, within the launch. “This proposal sends the mistaken message to our youth. Many kids have by no means seen in public locations indoors these days, and we must always not enable a backward slide in that previous.”

Extra: Staff on 5 Metro Detroit Nursing Properties run from work in 1-day strike

In response to public concern, the airport authority mentioned {that a} cigar lounge at DTW would come with measures to cut back publicity to smoke and emphasised that it prioritizes the well being and security of all its workers, prospects and guests.

“Bidders can be obliged to supply an ultramodern air processing and air flow system and facility design to cut back the publicity to smoke as utterly as potential,” mentioned the WCAA.

However in keeping with the American Society of Heating, cooling and air con engineers, “the one method to remove publicity to tobacco smoks indoors, is to ban all smoking actions inside and close to buildings.”

The proposed cigar lounge at DTW has additionally acquired criticism from the American NonSmokers Rights Foundationthe Keep Mi Kids Tobacco Free Alliance And lots of vacationers in Michigan.

Most responses to at least one DTW Facebook -message From the start of January – with photographs of the airport within the Nineteen Thirties – against the proposed cigar lounge.

“It should be the Nineteen Thirties if we’re contemplating smoking again in!” A person has responded.

“Used smoke is extraordinarily dangerous to human well being, and even the smoke of the third hand that comes from smoking clothes can also be dangerous,” wrote one other individual. “I’m a senior who can not afford to breathe second -hand smoke”

The coalition plans to cease its billboards for at the least 4 weeks and hopes that the marketing campaign will begin a broader public opposition.

A definitive plan has not but been introduced. WCAA mentioned it appreciates the enter of the neighborhood whereas it’s getting ready to “begin the request course of” for the prospect of concessions.

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking information reporter. E -mail her: nrahal@freepress.com. Comply with her on Twitter @Nrahal1.