Japan approves first anti-smoking law

JAPAN yesterday approved its first national legislation banning smoking inside of public facilities, but the watered-down measure excludes many restaurants and bars.

The legislation aims to lower secondhand smoking risks ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics amid international calls for a smoke-free Games. But ruling party lawmakers with strong ties to the tobacco and restaurant industries opted for a weakened version.

The upper house approved and enacted the bill into law yesterday after it was approved earlier by the lower house.

Last month, Tokyo separately enacted a stricter ordinance banning smoking at all eateries that have employees, to protect them from secondhand smoke. The ordinance will cover about 84 percent of Tokyo restaurants and bars.

Japan often has been called a smokers’ paradise. Until now it has had no binding law controlling secondhand smoke. That has brought pressure from international Olympics officials.

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.

Violators can face fines of up to 300,000 yen (US$2,700) for smokers and up to 500,000 yen for facility managers.

It will be implemented in phases through April 2020.