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© KYODOTokyo gov't seeks stricter smoking ban than national gov't
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Cricky
Good idea, we will see how many of Toko assembly members are in JT and restaurant hands.
chunagon
And dont't forget to demolish that smoking Gomorrah of Golden Gai
Kobe White Bar Owner
Just do it, no more grey rubbish a blanket national ban. Japan could also look less backward to the rest of the world which cant hurt considering the olympics are round the corner.
NZ2011
Lets hope stricter conditions really do come through.
Walking with my wife recently we saw a local, reasonably sized restaurant that had been "reformed" and looked much nicer than before, on the first walk past it seemed it was non-smoking, perhaps getting ready for the new restrictions, great we thought, we will have to support that business, sadly later that evening walked past again, and there like so many other examples is one old guy puffing away in a place filled with kids and families.. so disappointing.
Its just a matter of time, so why not get on board with the rest of the developed world on this issue, as much as I don't enjoy China's larger cities even they have banned smoking in most restaurants.
smithinjapan
Hahaha... it'll be like the last three: "We've set up a ban on smoking (backpat, backpat)... ahem... that is optional and not applicable to restaurants and bars or streets, offices, outside schools, parks, etc.".
rainyday
Good luck to her, if Tokyo succeeds at this it might embarrass the central government to do something actually meaningful next time.
Alex Einz
Hopefully it never passes, stop telling people what to do
I want a cig with my drink in a bar, you dont like it ? then go look for another bar, or better yet just stay home.
dcog9065
Banning things are never the answer, governments should be liberalizing instead of finding new things to be upset about and banning. Stop going backwards
browny1
dcog - actually a smoking ban is moving forward.
It's called progress.
Randy LaBotte
Watched this happen in my hometown (San Francisco, CA.) Bars stayed opened and restaurants as well. Loved it and can't stand all the cancer exposure in Japan.
Funny though, now a lot of people in San Francisco use e-cigs and smokes marijuana. LOL, People seem to like thier addictions.
borscht
Hopefully it passes, stop letting people kill me with their smoke.
I want a bar with no smoke, you don’t like it? Then go look for a sewer or better yet, just stay home.
wtfjapan
I want a cig with my drink in a bar, you dont like it ? then go look for another bar, or better yet just stay home. no you can stay home or find a bar that allows smoking , smokers are a minority and a minorities right to smoke doesn't superseded the majority of non smokers rights to clean air environment without the dangers of sickness related to passive smoking. Or better still move to a non democratic country that doesn't have smoking bans.
Strangerland
In Japan it does.
Luddite
Smoking bans in other country hasn't ruined business. It has increased certain health outcomes though.
smithinjapan
Alex Einz: "I want a cig with my drink in a bar, you dont like it ? then go look for another bar, or better yet just stay home."
Fortunately, the civilized world doesn't share your contempt for not only your own health, but others. YOu are literally killing your family, friends, and others you sit around and selfishly smoke your "cigs". It should be completely banned, and people who flout the ban fined, then jailed if they continue to do so.
Kazuaki Shimazaki
@Alex EinzToday 09:48 am JST
Is that based on a belief (correct or not) that your second hand smoke is harmless? Or are you saying that you are willingly indifferent to the harm you cause to other people's health in your pursuit of a cigarette?
Just want to clarify whether this is a "fact" issue or "law" issue.
Strangerland
I advocate the legalization of all drugs, and I'm not anti-tobacco.
wtfjapan
In Japan it does. well it wont forever, democratic process and morality will eventually drag Japan into the 21st century. A proper democratic country will alway put the rights of the many before the rights of the few especially if one group rights put the other groups lives at risk.
Disillusioned
If they ban smoking at all bars and restaurants, wouldn't that mean 100%? I guess the ones operated by the owner without employees would be exempt, which seems pretty stupid to me. However, I sincerely doubt this will go through. The bar association are gonna kick up a huge stink about this.
genkipilot
Simple solution:
Smoking Bars/Restaurants for smokers
and
non smoking Bars/Restaurants for non smokers
= freedom of choice
Many people seem to have an odd idea about democracy as well
democracy is not mob rule of the majority
but rather about protection of minorities rights
that applies to smokers and non smokers alike
Society is the sum of all people, imposing your idea of society on others
is Totalitarianism
Goodlucktoyou
it has worked quite well in countries like NZ and Australia. people have a right to smoke if they don't harm anyone. smoking rooms are the answer. if i go to a restaurant for dinner, i have get my suit dry-cleaned the next day at my expense.
Haruka
Maybe it will spread to Kanagawa finally.
juminRhee
An actual ban might spark a new business for smokers - a smokehouse. Here, smokers could come and light up inside (with or without ventilation) without hurting their families or fellow citizens. The smokehouses could even offer services, such as smoke-be-gone for clothing and special breathmints.
NoIdeaAboutAnything
Wish I could have my Neighbor stopped from smoking the most foulest of smelling cigarettes in their garden.
genkipilot
I assume none of you drive cars.
Or is it a case of your pollution is ok and someone else's pollution should be outlawed?
same thing could be said for the consumption of meat.
presto345
The smokers coming to the Olympics the year after next will love being able to burn, inhale, blow out the emissions of smoldering tobacco in every other restaurant or bar in this country. The non smokers will see this country as backward in the lack of legislation protecting people's health and classify this country as 'typically Asian'. Make up your mind Japan about the image you wish to project.
seadog538
The anti smoking fanatics are at it again! As a lifelong non smoker I worked and socialized with smokers for all of my working life without any ill effects--my lungs are in perfect condition. A bar,pub or club that doesn't have a haze of tobacco smoke is lacking in character!
Pukey2
alex:
seadog:
Yeah, for the moment. You wanna keep smoking? When you get lung cancer or any other medical condition brought on willingly by your dirty habits, please pay for medical treatment using your own money and do not use national health insurance. The rest of us do not want to foot the bill when even kids know smoking more than likely will lead to health complications.
So let me get this straight. You can still smoke in kindergartens and day care centres? Why not just blow the smoke over the kids' faces?
Pukey2
genkipilot:
I have never in my life experienced eating in a restaurant where a card drove in and the driver left the engine running.
Is it ok for me to break wind non-stop next to a smoker in a resturant?
FizzBit
Funny but not really humanly possible. How about those selfish people who douse themselves in highly toxic cologne or perfume? Can we outlaw that as well please?