Shinjuku Ward to restrict drinking alcohol on streets in Kabukicho area for Halloween

"In addition to more people, there was more trash on the streets than usual, prompting officials to carry out an emergency trash collection the next day."

Perfect, because my neighbor likes to say Japanese are famous for picking up other people's garbage.

Anyway, how about banning drinking when it's actually dangerous -- enkai seasons.

This trend is totally stupid. It’s just the older generation of Japan not liking what the younger generation of Japan is doing. Nobody’s getting hurt and people are just enjoying themselves with the exception of the old folks and the people that need to pick up some (emergency) trash! I’m pretty certain if you put out trash bins extra ones they would get used! Problem solved!

Whack a mole. Next stop Kawasaki.

Shinjuku Ward to restrict drinking alcohol on streets in Kabukicho area for Halloween

Central govt urge people to drink

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/18/1118163173/japans-tax-alcohol-young-people-campaign

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-urging-young-adults-drink-more-alcohol-tax-revenue/

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While ward govt try to prohibit people to drink, see how those Govt not work together.

The drinkers will just go other areas where they can drink on the street. The problem not the Halloween celebration. The problem is the binge drinking culture.

Whack a mole. Next stop Kawasaki.

It would be whack a mole if Shibuya allowed drinking on the street again, since it is not the case this is just less and less options.

While ward govt try to prohibit people to drink, see how those Govt not work together.

The ward government is pushing people to drink on much more profitable business dedicated to that, not on the street, both campaigns can be compatible. The people that work on keeping public health are the ones that are working against people drinking anywhere.

I don't even feel disappointed because I have learned to expect nothing from Japanese authority figures at this point. They heavily suppress young people while also employing endless propaganda designed to drum up paranoia around foreigners. Only thing to do now is wait until economic conditions get desperate enough and the young Japanese get to have their "Bombard the Headquarters" moment. I for one am gleefully looking forward to the upcoming humiliation rituals this societies' leaders will soon have to endure.

In addition to more people, there was more trash on the streets than usual, prompting officials to carry out an emergency trash collection the next day.

If the safety and security were the issue that might be a different story.

It was--in Itaewon.

This is not Itaewon.

Any enforcement of the ban ?

Wow. Drinking on the street must be a cool thing or something. I can't drink on the street where I live and I can't carry open alcohol in my car. I haven't died yet.

So people who go out for the evening to drink at their favorite bar have to elbow through a bunch of drunks on the street. That seems unsafe to me. I've met some pretty mean drunks. The bars lose business. That's bad for people who like to settle back and drink in a bar rather than stand around (or fall down a lot) drinking on the street.

I have to say that I don't get it. Why is it important to drink on the street? Is it more fun than a bar? Is it better than drinking at home (where you can have a party with your friends)? Edumacate me.

The ward said it made the decision due to a surge in people who came from Shibuya after they found out about the ban last Halloween

So dumb.

What, Kabukicho this year, and then a new ward next year? And another, and another, and so on?

And who is gonna enforce all this if they keep adding wards?

Why not just ban it through all of Tokyo already?

Why not just build a mesh fence around the blocks for people to poke holes into?

It’s not important to drink on the street. It’s fun. That’s why many Japanese people do it.

I don’t even drink, but when I did, it was fun sometimes to drink and people watch with some friends.

That said, I can understand the city’s desire to limit this on the night when it gets a little out of hand.

Thank you, Strangerland, for giving me some insight into the issue. I can see how it's fun. I can, like you, understand a city's to put a cap on drinking on the street. At least now I understand it better. That thumbs up is from me.

If the safety and security were the issue that might be a different story.

What makes you think there is no problem in safety and security? a sudden influx of people is a valid enough reason to have concerns about it, after all tragedies because of uncontrolled crowds have happened also in Japan, not only in Itaewon. Even a small amount of people being injured would still something that would be worth preventing.

And who is gonna enforce all this if they keep adding wards?

Each ward, this is not something the central government is trying to force the wards to do against their will but something the local government is implementing. It would be natural that if the wards consider the measure to make economic sense they would be losing less money by the restriction than allowing it.

Why not just ban it through all of Tokyo already?

Because they're all different municipalities. And the 都 offices wouldn't have jurisdiction to be able to do it across all of Tokyo.

I don’t even drink

Good to know.