May 22, 2012 06:42 PM UTC

Smoke 'Em if You Got 'Em. Quick!

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• by: Colorado Pols

Bad news if you’re a smoker: DIA will no longer allow any puffing under its roof. The smoking ban won’t go completely into effect until 2018, though, so you’ll have plenty of time to smoke a pack or 2000 in between flights.

From Fox31:

On Friday, DIA managers announced they will support Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s plans to eliminate all four of the current indoor smoking lounges.

Three of the four will be shut down for remodeling to make room for new “non-smoking concessions concepts,” the airport said. The third, Timberline Steakhouse, will shut down after its lease expires in 2018.

“I am committed to public health and the safety of everyone who visits, lives in or conducts business in our great city,” said Mayor Hancock. “DIA is the last public building in Colorado where indoor smoking lounges are still in operation. While they are legally allowed, we believe the responsible decision is to eliminate these facilities in order to better protect the wellbeing of everyone who uses the airport.”

This smoking ban might not seem like much, but it’s very much in line with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s efforts to turn Denver into a “world-class city.” Denver’s airport — the fifth busiest in the country — has been a hold out of sorts in even allowing smoking in the first place: only a handful of “hub” airports permit visitors to light up indoors. In its own infinitesimal way, then, banning smoking at DIA modernizes the city. Not necessarily because it’s a major policy change, but rather because it brings Denver’s image in line with that of other major cities (including Chicago and NYC) — especially for those who develop their first impression of the state when stepping off a jet-bridge.