Navy Bans Smoking on Submarines

Citing secondhand-smoke dangers for nonsmoking crew members, the U.S. Navy will impose a smoking ban on its submarine fleet at the end of the year, the New York Times reported June 20. 

“Recent testing has proven that, despite our atmosphere-purification technology, there are unacceptable levels of secondhand smoke in the atmosphere of a submerged submarine,” said Vice Adm. John J. Donnelly, commander of U.S. submarine forces.

Each hunter-killer and nuclear ballistic-missile boat will appoint a smoking-cessation coordinator to help wean sailors off tobacco, with nicotine gum, patches, and other alternatives provided to ease the transition. 

Approximately 5,000 of the Navy’s 13,000 submariners smoke.