Gov't OKs 1st anti-smoking law, but seen as lax and partial

Gov't OKs 1st anti-smoking law, but seen as lax and partial

Double face palm!

Look at us. We're trying "hard" to look good like a 21st century nation before the Olympics (but really not).

Nobody forces you to go in a bar/restaurant where smoking is allowed.

With already a shortage of staff, it is not like people were working at gun point where smoking is allowed.

Ban smoking in the streets, not in private venues.

This anti-smoking craze is ridiculous...

It will be implemented in phases through April 2020.

Why does it take two years to implement? Just flipping do it! Gladly, governor Koike has set her own rules in Tokyo, which are much more strict although, any penalties for breaching her laws have to be set by the federal government.

With already a shortage of staff, it is not like people were working at gun point where smoking is allowed.

This has to be the weakest pro-smoking argument I’ve ever heard! The majority of staff in small pubs and restaurants are teenagers who have very few choices for getting work.

I cannot count the amount of times I’ve seen little kids in smoky izakayas and sitting on mum’s or dad’s lap while they chug down a ciggy. It’s child abuse and absolutely disgraceful! Then, there’s the parents smoking away in the car with their kids strapped in the back seat. These people totally disgust me!

Do the hustle: establishments forces parents to take their kids to places where smoking is allowed? Talking of weak arguments?

The law is a good example of the perils of comprises in policy making, especially rife in Japanese culture.

The end result is that the objectives sought to be achieved are not at all (and all those involved look like a bunch of dummies).

I don't like smoking.

If people want to smoke, it’s their prerogative, but I do think smoking should be banned from ALL restaurants, bars and Izakaiyas any establishment that serves food and drinks. I don’t get what the allure is to smoking, gets in your clothes and hair, smoking should be be regulated to certain designated areas only.

California passed a statewide smoking ban in 1995. Let that sink in a for a moment as the dinosaurs running this nation continue to side with cancer ghouls.

As a smoker, I never smoke around children, food. Never within a confined space. When I was growing up you could smoke on airplanes in cinemas. It was normal then. Now is now and it stinks and poses a danger to not just me but others who are not addicted. It's really too late for me but others should be protected from harm. I smoke outside and am lucky to have no neighbours. These laws are pathetic I already surpassed them just out of manner. The idea that it's OK to smoke in a public spaces because I'm over 60 and a politician just goes to show the level of representative politics in Japan.

In this long on-going saga, one incredulous point is the fact that only now - in 2018 - has an enforcable law been put into place to ban smoking in hospitals, schools & public offices.

Many local govt policies and by-laws have been in place for sometime, but for the federal govt to lag 30 years behind on making it illegal in such places deserves derision.

Can only indicate a strong reluctance to change the laws due to vested interests, and then it's only happening now because of outside pressure.

Politicians again showing contempt for the majority of ordinary citizens of Japan.

Joke.

The new national law bans indoor smoking at schools, hospitals and government offices. Smoking will be allowed at existing small eateries, including those with less than 100 square meters of customer space, which includes more than half of Japanese establishments. Larger and new eateries must limit smoking to designated rooms.

Smoking is allowed in more than half and larger restaurants will have smoking rooms.

In Chiyoda ward, it’s a ¥2000 fine for smoking outside.

You can smoke inside but you can’t smoke outside. Makes sense.

Ya gotta love the picture above the article!!

If there was ever an incentive to stop smoking, it is that!!

Reminds me of days of walking through the smoking cars in the Shinkansen.... and the layer of smoke that was at the top of the cabin below the ceiling!

This seems like a good result. People who want to smoke will have establishments that allow smoking. People who don't want to be around smoke will have non-smoking establishments to go to. Seems fair for both groups.

When you see a smoker blowing their soot in your face just cough back in their face as loud as possible, that usually makes them stop.

This anti-smoking craze is ridiculous...

It's only ridiculous if your a smoker.

I guess I'll stick with Starbucks. There just aren't many options one can take. In Osaka, nearly all coffee shops, pubs and izakayas are smoke havens. I guess the economics are that the majority of customers who don't smoke have a shoganai attitude that will allow owners to continue catering to minority smokers without paying any economic penalty. I don't know what this does for tourism or what it will do come Olympic time. As far as being a baby friendly country, fogetaboutit!

I guess the economics are that the majority of customers who don't smoke have a shoganai attitude that will allow owners to continue catering to minority smokers without paying any economic penalty.

It would seem that if there are that many smoking patrons, catering to the smoking population is an economic benefit.

Starbucks, as you mentioned, has seen the economic opportunity of offering a smoke-free environment for patrons, which has brought it to be a world-wide brand. It's great that there are alternatives for both smokers and non-smokers.

Oh golly, gee-whiz ... these corridors of power are so progressively efficient.

Maybe someone's grandchildren can look forward to pro-toking legislation ;-)

Ban smoking in the streets, not in private venues. This anti-smoking craze is ridiculous... firstly its not an anti-smoking craze its public health legislation. Passive smoking is caused by lingering second hand smoke in enclosed spaces, smokers are the cause of 15000 premature deaths every-year because of their habit they are the ones that need to take their habit to spaces where passive smoking risks are very small, AKA outside. smokers are a minority the majority of a proper democratic country dont need to kowtow to the minority especially if they're putting their health at risk. If your a smoker either take your habit outside or quit.

My Summer Dream: Smoking indoors anywhere in Tokyo and Japan is going to come to an end. It is the only realistic answer. Please put a roof and door on those stinking outdoor "Smoking areas". Finally, no smoking in public parks. I cannot go to any of them. Families, children, and everyone will one day be free to enter any establishment.

Pathetic. Just ban it in public places.

This anti-smoking craze is ridiculous...

Craze? If it is a 'craze' then it's one that's been around since 1954.

Japanese can be trained out of this very bad habit. Just ban it already. If they are o.k. not smoking on trains and airplanes, they will be o.k. not smoking in restaurants and bars.

If your a smoker either take your habit outside or quit.

Or patronize establishments where all parties have agreed it is ok to smoke.

Government: "We hereby ban all smoking in public, except in any public place where people like to smoke, as it would be difficult. What's more, all restaurants must CLEARLY separate smoking from non-smoking sections, using a small sign somewhere. ANYONE caught smoking on streets that have been deemed non-smoking will be looked at with scorn... unless they look back... then we'll just look away. Anyone caught disposing of cigarette butts on the road or anywhere else will be cleaned up after by our amazing culture of cleanliness, but they will be forced to think about perhaps cooperating and not doing it again... even though no one will say anything. The Government will also impose a tax hike on all cigarette brands, but it is up to Tobacco companies whether they wish to follow it or not. Punishment for not doing so, however, will be a strong sigh behind closed doors. Local govenrment offices and schools that have moved their smoking sections to the entrances of buildings must move the ashtrays a minimum of 10 centimeters from their current position. Anyone caught smoking Inside these buildings will be met with a look of disbelief, unless they are looking back. Citizens are advised not to approach or speak to people smoking in designated non-smoking areas, as they may be stabbed or pushed in front of trains. Please just gaman. The relevant authorities will pretend to monitor the situation, if they so desire, but it's strictly voluntary. After considerable panel discussions, fines have been ruled out, as they might be unpopular, which might hurt us at élections. However, we Always keep your health in mind, and we are proud to have Advanced as a nation in terms of helping stop pervasive public smoking and second-hand smoking, which may contribute to cancer, if doctor's choose to say so. It is up to them."

I never understood why they make prevail butt lighted danger in the street (probably a politician got his suit with a hole in it due to uncautious behavior by some...) over smoke and its thousands of death per year.

Common sense lack. I like the tobacco smell but that's it.

Well to anserwer everyone's confusion Aso is both a smoker and the biggest fund raiser for the LDP regime. He rules. He wants to smoke everywhere. So again we get loopholes that are detrimental to tax payers but convienence to a old man who just doesn't care about anything except himself. Yet he and his cronies are voted in.

This anti-smoking craze is ridiculous...

Getting cancer from someone else's disgusting habit is ridiculous.

Look at us. We're trying "hard" to look good like a 21st century nation before the Olympics (but really not).

Wonder how a 21st century nation looks like in the eyes of this poster :)

This anti-smoking craze is ridiculous...

It's only ridiculous if your a smoker.

The fundamentalists are there and dream about drastic measurements :)

My Summer Dream: Smoking indoors anywhere in Tokyo and Japan is going to come to an end. It is the only realistic answer. Please put a roof and door on those stinking outdoor "Smoking areas". Finally, no smoking in public parks. I cannot go to any of them. Families, children, and everyone will one day be free to enter any establishment.

Dream on.

It's pretty amusing that so many fundamentalists complaining about smoking habits overseas come from countries that rule the global tobacco industry and receive all the benefits of it. :)

Any normal country bans cancer smoke. But as this is Japan..... Well maybe have special cancer cafes and restaurants for those who seem to want cancer and get rid of this disgusting cancer smoke elsewhere.

Look at us. We're trying "hard" to look good like a 21st century nation before the Olympics (but really not).

Wonder how a 21st century nation looks like in the eyes of this poster :)

It looks like any number of developed countries( EU, Canada, Aus...etc ) that have passed these kind of laws way back when , that Japan desperately wants to be seen on the same level with but is once again failing pathetically . All because of the LDP dinosaur oyajis running this joint. Clear enough ?

Ah, the laws, good riddance, and yes these old Nips are of course failing to pass a law through the Diet.

But... how effective have the laws passed in the EU, Canada etc. 'long long time ago' been in reality for the citizens health?

Here some country fact sheets from the Tobacco Atlas of the American Cancer Society:

UK

https://tobaccoatlas.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/united-kingdom-country-facts.pdf

Canada

https://tobaccoatlas.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/canada-country-facts.pdf

United States

https://tobaccoatlas.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/canada-country-facts.pdf

Japan

https://tobaccoatlas.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/japan-country-facts.pdf

I'm not denying that smoking is negative for one's health but it's about freedom of choice at places where the vast majority of customers and staff is in consent.

Looking forward to light a Romeo Y Julieta No. 3 at a cozy bar somewhere in Tokyo.

Its pathetic and embarrassing, japan grow up please.

There is clearly something wrong when the same entity that provides national health insurance profits from the sale of cigarettes, and doesn't even charge smokers more than non-smokers for coverage.

Smokers pay their extra charge on health insurance by the tax on their cigarettes not so difficult to comprehend.

Its pathetic and embarrassing, japan grow up please.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you :)

So life expancty is world record or close and everyone is shouting smoke cancer is everywhere.

I want people to realize this is first about comfort and respect, then for health. The two are necessary for Japan to improve anyway.