Smoking has now been banned from submarines too says the US Navy. They plan to stock nicotine patches and gums on board to help the sailors quit the habit. This new policy will go into effect before December 31st this year, announced Vice Admiral. John J. Donnelly, commander of the Navy’s submarine forces on Thursday.
“The only way to eliminate risk to our non-smoking sailors is to stop smoking aboard our submarines,” he said. This decision was made after a one year study showed that there were unacceptable levels of secondhand smoke when the ‘subs’ are submerged despite air purification systems. This new policy however will allow the Commanders to decide whether their crews can smoke on deck while their subs are above water. Donnelley also said, “While submarine duty is a dynamic and demanding job, the Submarine Force is dedicated to mitigating unnecessary risks to our sailors…Exposure to a harmful substance that is avoidable, such as secondhand smoke, is unfair to those who choose not to smoke.”
However smoking is a sensitive issue among the military with many claiming it as a stress reliever and cigarettes were even a part of lifeboat rations for decades along with food and water. Last year USA Today reported, the Pentagon was considering banning on military property the use of tobacco by troops and the sale of tobacco. Within a week the paper reported, the Pentagon was “reassuring troops” that it would not ban tobacco products in war zones. According to Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell, “military officials are not interested in adding to the stress levels by taking away one of the few outlets they may have to relieve stress.” It remains to be seen how this announcement is received.
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