Action LIne - #80309 Dorm smoking

  • Published
  • By Anonymous
  • 39th Air ABse Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint:

Considering how the Air Force likes to push the whole "Fit to Fight" concept, and the rules regarding smoking within a certain distance of buildings, it infuriates me that smoking is allowed in the dorms right next to other people's rooms. As a former smoker, I know the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke. However, even when minding my own business in my own dorm-room, I am still subjected to the noxious odor of tobacco smoke. Even with my door and windows closed, this intolerable and disgusting poison is able to seep through my door and window seal, filling my room and lungs with toxins.

Why is it, that with all of the medical knowledge known about the dangers of tobacco, smokers are still allowed to endanger the health of others around them? The Centers for Disease Control has stated that of the 4,000 chemicals that have been identified in secondhand tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful, and 50 of these are known to cause cancer. I always hear how we have to respect smoker's rights but if I stood outside someone's door and sprayed arsenic, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide into their room, I would be arrested for attempted murder since these are all deadly poisons.

So why are smokers allowed to do this to nonsmokers? Smokers might not care about their health, but I do care about mine.

Response:

I appreciate your concern for your health and physical fitness. You are correct that we have to respect smokers' rights but the non-smoker has rights as well. AFI 32-6005, Unaccompanied Housing Management, and the Incirlik Unaccompanied Housing Guide state that smoking is prohibited in bed and common areas such as dayrooms, adjoining bathrooms/kitchenettes, hallways, stairwells, and public bathrooms. Smoking is prohibited in Dormitory 1084 because the A/C system interconnects all rooms. You do have the right to politely ask a person smoking in these areas to put out their cigarette/cigar.

AFI 32-6005 and the housing guide both clearly state that if the adjoining room mate is bothered in any way by smoke, the non-smoker's rights take precedence. Meaning, if you are bothered by your adjoining room mate's smoke and you respectfully inform him/her; they should respect your rights and smoke outside.

If your concerns are not met with talking with the individual, discuss the issue with your dorm manager. If the issue persists after the dorm manager gets involved, feel free to go to your First Sergeant for help. If everything else fails, talk with the Housing Office to see if there is an open room you can move into.

We need to respect everyone's rights regardless if they smoke or not. Living in close quarters with people from all walks of life is a challenge. However, I strongly believe that with respect, politeness and courtesy problems such as this can be resolved satisfactorily.