Governor proposes Kanagawa smoking ban ordinance

Tuesday 17th February, 06:17 AM JST

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Junichi at 11:16 AM JST - 17th February

Finally catching up. When's Europe going to catch up?

So Eire, Italy, the UK, France and Switzerland aren't in Europe? All these countries (as do most western European countries) already have smoking bans, duh.

Maybe he was talking about "New Europe?"
shouganaika at 11:42 AM JST - 17th February

good idea, nationwide next please
Yelnats at 12:50 PM JST - 17th February

Japan Tobacco made a lot of money this year selling to asian countries. Street smoking is now banned in Yamato City Kanagawa, and I noticed it is also banned on the street in FutakoTamagaawa too.
williamsmith at 01:13 PM JST - 17th February

Tabacco smoking is evil.
Disillusioned at 01:27 PM JST - 17th February

Penalties against violators have also been incorporated into the ordinance to ensure its effectiveness.

And, who will enforce them? The cops??? Don't make me laugh! It is good to see some effort being made to respect the rights of non-smokers, but if nobody enforces these regulations it is nothing more than a political stunt to gain votes in the next election *(from non-smokers). *
Manpe at 06:40 PM JST - 17th February

I would love this to be nationwide. I cant stand it when people smoke on the sidewalk. I wouldn't be surprised if I smacked it out of their hands one day. Every morning I wind up getting stuck behind some jerk smoking on the sidewalk with his buddy. When I walk by the smoking area near Hachiko I have to hold my breath, its just gross. They have no shame here smoking. I have seen parents with the windows up in a car with their child in the back. Just repulsive
borscht at 06:56 PM JST - 17th February

some influential assembly members remain wary of it.

These influential members are wary of banning smoking in public facilities such as hospitals, schools and government buildings? They think students should be allowed to smoke? And doctors, too, as they see patients? I think these influential members are smokers. Just a guess. My university banned smoking outside of designated areas 40 years ago.
Ranger_Miffy at 07:40 PM JST - 17th February

A gaijin friend of mine is hoping to open a nice little local bar soon. I've really pushed him to make it NON-SMOKING because I am sure, like the Starbucks model, he will enjoy great success with non-smokers looking for a non-cancerous environment to enjoy a brew in. Much less STAFF not having to worry about cancer 25 years later thanks to their goddamn night job. I really hope he can find the fortitude to buck the "bars can't live without smokers" hype. What do you all think?
TheQuestion at 02:47 AM JST - 18th February

Ugh...this is aweful. Your telling me that now I can't even smoke my cuban when I've gone across oceans to get the bloody thing? I'm not a chain smoker, I'm a connoisseur, and if these countries keep raising tobacco taxes and limiting the places I light up its going to cost me $200 dollars for an Upmann that I'm not even allowed to smoke because most hotels dont allow smoking either...I think I'm going to go out right now, light up one of my stogies, and start puffing smoke like a chinese coal plant while I still have the chance.
francisco3269 at 02:56 AM JST - 19th February

As for pachinko parlors as well as restaurants and bars that are 100 square meters or smaller in space, the ordinance will require them just to make efforts to create a nonsmoking environment.

Just to make efforts? Is that all? Faderkinta: Does relaxing have to involve slowly killing yourself? Can't you find a better way to "relax"? TheQuestion: I think I'm going to go out right now, light up one of my stogies, and start puffing smoke like a chinese coal plant while I still have the chance. Ya, let us know how puffing smoke like a chinese coal plant works out for you in the end!
francisco3269 at 05:26 AM JST - 19th February

My problem is with the smokers who choose to ignore the health and well being of people who choose not to smoke,I also have a problem with smokers who choose to light up anytime, anywhere, infront of kids or people who choose not to smoke. What gain is there from smoking? Also, I do agree that a smoker may enjoy his/her tabacco where and when the smoker deems fit, aslong as your not putting someone elses health in danger with 2nd hand smoke. If you choose to smoke, by all means enjoy it, just do it where it only affects you.
Stonecoldsoba at 06:46 PM JST - 19th February

Miffy:

A gaijin friend of mine is hoping to open a nice little local bar soon. ... I really hope he can find the fortitude to buck the "bars can't live without smokers" hype. What do you all think?

Just let us know where it is.
TheQuestion at 09:42 PM JST - 19th February

hmm...it appears my last comment was deleted. Oh well.

What gain is there from smoking? None, but one could say there is nothing to gain from dressing like one of those strange little goth kids or listening to classical music. You do it because you want to, as a statement of character and individuality, reguardless of what others may think.

The justification for these bans is that smoking is adversly effecting public health. One could use the same arguement for banning alchohol and banning loud music (which is known to damage the inner ear and cause psychological damage to fetuses and weaken its central nervous system) and anything else that acts counter to public health.

I mean honestly, some scientist with to much funding and time could probably make the case that brightly colored hawiian shirts can cause seizures. My point is that laws like these, no matter the good intent, strip citizens of basic freedoms under the guise of public saftey.

And Miffy,

Just take a look at France and Germany when they instituted their bans. The same year bankuptcy of French Cafe's went up 75% and resturunts and bars in both countries experienced a drop in revenue of 15%. Places that allowed illegal smoking on their premisis on the otherhand did quite well and the authorities really don't feel like prosecuting them.

Maybe your friend can open up a smokeasy I know a guy in Manhattan that runs one and he says the profits hes getting blow any fine he might recieve out of the water.
Sarge at 10:20 PM JST - 19th February

"Every morning I wind up getting stuck behind some jerk smoking on the sidewalk"

Hey, give the jerk a break! Recently he can't smoke in his office, or in the bank, or even before 3PM in some restaurants!
corvid50 at 10:53 AM JST - 28th February

Growing up in Canada we were bombarded with pubic-service advertising and health education about the dangers and rudeness of smoking. But it wasnt until the across-the-board outlawing of public smoking in the 1990s that people stopped smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places, and EVERYONE admits that our public spaces are vastly more enjoyable because of it. The fact is that human nature just isnt always rational, and no amount of common sense or common decency will prevent people with chemical addictions to nicotine from lighting up in public. I myself over-indulge in too much coffee, or ice cream, or occasionally drive too fast, or sometimes dont wear a seatbelt, etc, etc. But all the otherrightsthat are held up as examples similar to theright to smokelack two crucial characteristics which tobacco addiction and public smoking cannot escape. 1: cigarette smoke directly causes displeasure in people trying to enjoy food or drink, trying to enjoy fresh air; people worried about their health or the health of their partner or child or friend. Smokers simply DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS. (If you deny the health risks of smoking, you are delusional/mentally retarded) 2: every smoker, whether they admit it or not, hates their addiction, hates feeling awful every morning, hates the way their breath and sweat, their clothes and homes stink, hates themselves for not being able to quit. Everyproud smokerthat I have encountered will eventually admit to multiple past failed attempts to quit. And this brings me back to the blanket banning of cigarette smoking in public smoking, which the Kanagawa gov. seems to have backed away from: Smoking rates plummeted in Canada after the ban. This is the only way that our societies can the rates of smoking, and thereby reduce all the societal costs of these smokers dying slowly and expensively. Smokers cant do it by themselves, though they desperately want to (no matter what they might claim).
Finally, Im really, really tired of this stupidly illogical line of thinking:Smoking bans will negatively impact businesses whose cliental smoke`. If the ban is sweeping, like those in N.America, Europe, Australia, NZ, then every establishment is affected equally; no competitor has an advantage, and no business will suffer. No bars or restaurants went bankrupt because of smoking bans in Canada; in fact business increased across the board.