2025 House Resolution 200

Whereas, The Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), plans to issue a request for proposals to open a cigar bar and restaurant in the McNamara Terminal. This plan would require an exemption from Michigan’s smoke-free air law, which has prohibited indoor smoking in DTW since 2010. Moving forward with an exemption would roll back more than 15 years of established health protections for travelers and employees and undermine Michigan’s progress toward ensuring public places are smoke-free; and

Whereas, Michigan voters largely oppose opening a cigar bar in the airport. A statewide poll conducted by EPIC-MRA in late June 2025 found that 77 percent of Michigan voters oppose placing a cigar lounge inside DTW. This could be because cigars cater to a finite group of consumers. In 2021, only 3.5 percent of all adults and only one percent of adult women were estimated to smoke cigars. The number of cigar users pales in comparison to the estimated 88.4 percent of Americans and 86.4 percent of Michigan residents who do not smoke; and

Whereas, Secondhand smoke is deadly. Every year in Michigan, over 1,740 nonsmokers die as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke. Cigar smoke is especially harmful. A single, large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes. Secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack in a child, and even brief exposure can cause damage to the body and increase the risk of heart attack; and

Whereas, Ventilation is not sufficient to remove tobacco smoke and protect individuals’ health. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers issued a position document stating that “[t]he only means of avoiding health effects and eliminating indoor [environmental tobacco smoke] exposure is to ban all smoking activity inside and near buildings”; and

Whereas, Detroit-area airports, including DTW, provide a workplace for more than 18,000 employees. Comprehensive, 100 percent smoke-free workplace policies are the only effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace. Secondhand cigar smoke puts workers at risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Annually, smoking-related illnesses and premature deaths cause over 156 billion dollars in lost productivity in the United States, including 5.6 billion dollars in lost productivity due to secondhand smoke. In Michigan alone, a loss of 11.5 billion dollars in annual productivity is attributed to smoking-related illnesses and premature deaths; and

Whereas, Allowing indoor smoking in airports is atypical. Of the top 35 airports in the United States, all but three prohibit indoor smoking. Opening a cigar bar normalizes smoking and unhealthy behaviors in an environment where tens of millions of people travel each year, including many families with young children; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Wayne County Airport Authority to halt plans to open a cigar bar inside the Detroit Metropolitan Airport; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the board members and the Chief Executive Officer of the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Director of Concessions and Quality Assurance at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.