Dunedin Airport in New Zealand sets a time limit for hugs and has generated global debate with its new notice enforcing a three-minute time restriction on embraces in its drop-off zone, adding “for fonder farewells, please use the car park.”
Some readers on a viral Facebook post are angered by a cuddle curfew, while others are surprised that an airport still has a free drop-off space at all, given the general increase in costs and fines.
Daniel De Bono, CEO of Dunedin Airport, spoke on the issue in an interview with New Zealand’s RNZ radio. Describing airports as “hotbeds of emotion,” he cited a research that found a 20-second embrace is enough to produce a burst of the “love hormone” oxytocin, and argued that moving customers through swiftly allowed more people to receive hugs.
A Facebook post featuring a photo of the “Max hug time 3 minutes” sign has received over 56,000 likes and over 1400 comments.
“Hugs can’t be time-limited! “That’s inhumane,” one individual commented.
Others were more encouraging, pointing out that such a cap would be beneficial in other areas.
“OMG school drop off lines need a similar sign (Max hug time 10 sec).”
The story has captured the attention of worldwide news outlets.
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