ASSESSING SMOKING BEHAVIOR IN THAILAND’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS AFTER THE REMOVAL OF DESIGNATED SMOKING ROOMS: A POLICY PERSPECTIVE USING NUDGES PRINCIPLE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/jesm.2025.10Keywords:
Smoke-Free Airports, Designated Smoking Rooms (DSRs), Nudge Theory, Public Health Policy, Thailand International AirportsAbstract
Despite clear scientific evidence on the health risks of secondhand smoke (SHS) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in airport environments, smoking behavior in designated non-smoking areas remains a policy challenge in many countries, including Thailand. This study aimed to assess smoking behavior within and around four major international airports in Thailand-Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket-following the official removal of Designated Smoking Rooms (DSRs) in 2019. Using a structured observation methodology and a behavioral “nudges” framework to analyze behaviors, the findings revealed that 99.7% of smokers complied with indoor smoking bans, indicating that the absence of DSRs does not hinder effective law enforcement. However, smoking violations were still observed in outdoor areas, often linked to spatial and communicative design limitations, such as the lack of clear directional signage to smoking zones or the absence of clearly defined non-smoking boundaries. This study proposes the application of the "Nudges" framework to redesign choice architecture that promotes desirable behavior. Drawing on successful case studies from Copenhagen Airport and Singapore’s smoke-free policy, the research highlights how non-coercive behavioral interventions can effectively reduce policy violations without relying on punitive measures. The findings suggest that this nudge approach offers an effective and sustainable management of public spaces. Moreover, we strongly discourage the establishment of smoking rooms inside airport buildings, as they pose increased health risks to both passengers and airport staff.
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