Smoke signal: Suvarnabhumi sparks smoking rooms outrage

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

By Bob Scott

 

Smoking row ignites as the Airports of Thailand (AoT) makes a shocking bid to reintroduce smoking rooms at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, pushing against the global trend towards smoke-free terminals. As the world gears up for 100% smoke-free airports, Thailand’s move has stirred up a storm of controversy.

 

Associate Professor Dr Naowarat Charoenkha from the Thai Health Promotion Institute, part of the National Health Foundation, dropped a bombshell.

 

Dr Naowarat revealed that insiders from the National Tobacco Product Control Board (TPB) are deeply worried about the AoT’s submission to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), set for tomorrow, Friday, February 7.

 

“The prospect of reversing the smoking ban, enforced in all Thai airports for the past seven years, is alarming.

 

“Changing the law to permit smoking rooms again could jeopardise Thailand’s standing on the global stage. It’s widely known that cigarette smoke harms not just smokers, but everyone in the vicinity.”

 

A dismal study from 2013 revealed that airports in Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket were inundated with dangerously high levels of PM2.5 particulate matter. The research showed staggering levels of pollution, putting both passengers and airport staff at risk.

 

 

Meanwhile, countries like China have shown leadership, with Beijing and other major airports banning smoking rooms. By 2017, nearly half of the world’s busiest airports were smoke-free, a trend set to continue, said Dr Naowarat.

 

“But Thailand is veering off course.”

 

The tobacco control advocate harked back to when smoking bans began on flights due to concerns over flight crews’ health.

 

“The US led the charge in 1990, initially banning smoking on flights under two hours. By 1996, Air Canada and others had followed suit, leading to a complete ban across the skies.”

 

In 1992, Thai Airways was commended by the WHO for its smoking ban on domestic flights, a trailblazing move leading to a ban on smoking areas in Thai airports by 2018, aligning with WHO’s Tobacco Control Convention.

 

Picture of smokers courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Dr Naowarat made an impassioned plea to the TPB, urging them to prioritise passenger health over reinstating smoking rooms.

 

“Our airports have proudly been documented as 100% smoke-free, let’s not dim that achievement.”

 

Will Thailand’s airports stay smoke-free havens or puff their way back to the past? Only time will tell.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-02-06

 

 

[sammieuk1]

I don't smoke now for 11 years but if your a smoker banning it only makes the need greater and ways will be found 🤔

 

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Changing the law to permit smoking rooms again could jeopardise Thailand’s standing on the global stage. It’s widely known that cigarette smoke harms not just smokers, but everyone in the vicinity.”

 

Who will be hanging around in the smoking rooms other than smokers?

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It’s widely known that cigarette smoke harms not just smokers, but everyone in the vicinity.”

AKA smokers. @BangkokReady beat me to it. As for global trends, Changi airport, one of if not the best airport in the world has enclosed airconditioned smoking rooms and designated outside smoking areas. Indeed there are 18 places you can go and have a smoke.

[realfunster]

Thank you AOT.

 

I was pleasantly surprised to stumble across a smoking room in the new satellite terminal a few months back, not very well signposted at the time but it is there.

 

 

[steven100]

yes,  it's outrages    !!   Netizens speakup  !!   thai's should never allow this !   farang go home ...  haha 

[Ralf001]

transitting in  South Korea (Incheon) last year ... the smoking rooms were a welcome surprise.

 

Bring back smoking rooms at swampy has my vote.

[dinsdale]

31 minutes ago, steven100 said:

yes,  it's outrages    !!   Netizens speakup  !!   thai's should never allow this !   farang go home ...  haha 

Farang????????? Asians are way bigger smokers.

[Ralf001]

4 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Farang????????? Asians are way bigger smokers.

 

the Asian ladies I frequent sure do love to smoke.

[soi3eddie]

I'm not a smoker, never have been, never intend to be and hate tobacco (and weed) smoke. Since at least 2007, I have been against the draconian anti-smoking laws where even designated smoking places were provided. If there is a segregated area, either in an airport, restaurant, hotel, pub or workplace, then why make smokers into pariahs? There is no need, they are only, potentially, harming themselves and others who choose to also smoke. Bringing back smoking rooms - in my opinion, why not?

 

[sherwood]

Open air smoking area's would be my preference, would cut down on the residual smoke stench.

I plan on quitting in the near future.

Again.

[soi3eddie]

Open air smoking? Even burning incense at a shrine in Benjakitti Park, Bangkok is no longer allowed (picture from Saturday 1st February 2025). What next? No more PM2.5 to ban smoking anywhere?

 

[dinsdale]

13 minutes ago, sherwood said:

Open air smoking area's would be my preference, would cut down on the residual smoke stench.

I plan on quitting in the near future.

Again.

Try vaping. Did it for me. I know vaping still isn't good but it's a damn side better than cigarettes. I'm around 9 mnths without a cig. Fancy one every now and again and I'm guessing I always will.

[Mr Meeseeks]

28 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

the Asian ladies I frequent sure do love to smoke.

Is yours small like a cigarette? 

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Is yours small like a cigarette? 

 

They needs more than 2 fingers to smoke it.

[redwood1]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

transitting in  South Korea (Incheon) last year ... the smoking rooms were a welcome surprise.

 

Bring back smoking rooms at swampy has my vote.

 

South Koreas smoking room are fantastic, the best I have ever experienced....Very nice, and very clean....With a top of the line air filter ventilation system...

 

Japans smoking rooms are kind of hard to find and they are so so....But they are good enough after a long flight.....

 

No reason in the world non smokers should be against smoking rooms in airports......Non smokers have a 0% chance of catching 2nd hand smoke...

[sqwakvfr]

Speaking of somking, yesterday I was on a Korean Air flight from ICN to LAX.  AT 37,000 feet and over the Pacific ocean a loud alarm went off in the cabin and then I saw two flight attendants running towards the front of the airplane.  Most of the passengers were sleeping and and  at that moment I thought "oh is this the big one?".  Five moments later an FA announced "smoking in the lavaroties will activate an alarm so please do not smoke in there".  Upon landing all passengers were told to remain seated so that "officials can remove someone".  I guess this became a federal case because two US Customs and Border Protection officers handucffed and removed the "smoker" off the flight.  "I guess when you need a smoke, you need a smoke". 10+ is a long time and for some nicorette gum or a patch just doesn't do it.  I have never smoked, having lived in CNX for years I get a lot of second hand smoke (both cigarettes and now cannabis) so I say "no mercy for smokers".  For the dude who is now in CPS custody "don't bend over to pickup the soap.  

[DLock]

I'm happy to let smokers have their space...but because the spaces are generally small, poorly ventilated and grim, they prop the door open to let some clean air...allowing all the smoke to escape.

 

I doubt it will happen.

[redwood1]

3 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Speaking of somking, yesterday I was on a Korean Air flight from ICN to LAX.  AT 37,000 feet and over the Pacific ocean a loud alarm went off in the cabin and then I saw two flight attendants running towards the front of the airplane.  Most of the passengers were sleeping and and  at that moment I thought "oh is this the big one?".  Five moments later an FA announced "smoking in the lavaroties will activate an alarm so please do not smoke in there".  Upon landing all passengers were told to remain seated so that "officials can remove someone".  I guess this became a federal case because two US Customs and Border Protection officers handucffed and removed the "smoker" off the flight.  "I guess when you need a smoke, you need a smoke". 10+ is a long time and for some nicorette gum or a patch just doesn't do it.  I have never smoked, having lived in CNX for years I get a lot of second hand smoke (both cigarettes and now cannabis) so I say "no mercy for smokers".  For the dude who is now in CPS custody "don't bend over to pickup the soap.  

 

Ok we all know anyone who smokes on airplanes is a idiot......But thats very different from smoking rooms at airports....