Proposed DTW Cigar Lounge Puts Smoke‑Free Protections at Risk

DETROIT, April 17, 2026 — A widely supported law protecting Michigan’s indoor air from tobacco smoke is now under threat at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). The Wayne County Airport Authority is considering a proposal to add a cigar bar in the McNamara terminal in a highly trafficked shopping area, a move that could expose millions of travelers and airport workers to harmful secondhand smoke and require an exemption from Michigan’s smoke-free air law. Detroit Metro Airport is a key entryway to Michigan and Ohio for visitors from across the world. In 2023, DTW served more than 31 million passengers, including many families with children. It is also the workplace of more than 18,000 people. The proposed cigar lounge would expose millions of people to dangerous secondhand smoke. There is no safe level of second-hand smoke, and studies have repeatedly shown there is no ventilation system capable of filtering out all smoke particles, exposing anyone who shares space with a cigar lounge to dangerous secondhand smoke. In an airport setting, this becomes even more dangerous. Backed by overwhelming public support, Michigan passed the Smoke‑Free Indoor Air Law in 2009 through House Bill 4377 , allowing exemptions only for cigar bars that existed prior its effective date of May 1, 2010. Now, the Wayne County Airport Authority board, appointed by the Wayne County Executive, the Governor and the Wayne County Commission, is moving against what Michiganders overwhelming support with their proposal to add a cigar lounge into a highly public space. This proposal would lock in the exemption through a 10‑year contract, creating exposure to secondhand smoke in a highly public space for the next decade. A recent statewide poll of Michigan residents, conducted in June 2025, shows nearly eight out of ten Michigan voters (77%) oppose plans to open a cigar bar inside Detroit Metro Airport’s McNamara Terminal. Of those polled, 65% strongly oppose the proposal. With nearly every major U.S. airport banning indoor smoking, the evidence is clear: clean indoor air is the standard Americans expect According to the U.S. Surgeon General, secondhand smoke causes lung cancer, heart disease and stroke in non-smoking adults and more frequent and severe asthma, respiratory problems and ear infections in infants and children. “As a cardiologist, I see firsthand how tobacco exposure contributes to heart disease, stroke, and long-term health complications,” said Herb Aronow, MD, MPH, FACC. Allowing a cigar lounge inside Detroit Metro Airport would unnecessarily expose travelers and airport employees to harmful secondhand smoke. Michigan has been a leader in protecting clean indoor air; this proposal moves us in the wrong direction.” “This year, more than 68,000 Michiganders will hear the words, “You have cancer.” Adults who do not smoke and are exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20-30%,” said Molly Medenblik, Michigan government relations director at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “Everyone — including travelers and those who work at the airport — deserves the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. Travelers shouldn’t have to worry about being exposed to secondhand smoke — especially when the evidence is crystal clear that it poses serious risks to a person's health.” "The American Lung Association in Michigan strongly opposes the establishment of a cigar bar at Detroit Metropolitan Airport,” said Kezia Ofosu Atta, director of advocacy for Michigan and Ohio at the American Lung Association. “Michigan already faces some of the highest rates of lung disease in the nation; increasing exposure to secondhand smoke into a major travel hub is a step backward for public health. We must protect the popular smoke-free provisions that safeguard the millions of passengers and Michiganders who move through this airport every year." ### About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. For Media Inquiries: Sarah Rood: Sarah.Rood@heart.org , 734.626.8237 For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) heart.org and stroke.org ”