Analytical study on street smoking ban by local ordinances in Japan, 2002-2018

Abstract

Objective: Since 2002, street smoking ban has been enforced by local ordinances in municipalities in Japan. We analyzed the trends and development of these ordinances came into force from 2002 to 2018. Methods: The ordinances which include the word of "street smoking" or "smoke while walking" in the text were picked up in a national ordinance database. The text of each ordinance and the implementing regulations were downloaded for analysis. Results: As of December 31st, 2018, 189 municipalities are identified to have enforced street smoking ban ordinances. 96 municipalities are found in KANTO area (around Tokyo) followed by 40 municipalities in KANSAI area (around Osaka) and their distribution is uneven. In the titles of the ordinances, the phrase; "littering ban" is used in 34 cases, the word; "environment" is used in 27 cases. In the text of the ordinances, "cigarette butts littering ban" is described in 122 cases, "secondhand smoking" is in 27 cases and "health" is found in only 12 ordinances. 107 municipalities provide penal regulations. The total number of municipalities has been increasing but after the 29 municipalities in 2008, the numbers of the new municipalities in each year is decreasing. Conclusions: The main purposes of many ordinances are the cleanness of the city. Due to the rapid increase of inbound visitors, the enforcement of street smoking ban ordinance is expected to be increase. At the same time, indoor smoking ban which is not enough regulated at present supposed to be developed towards the Tokyo Olympic year, 2020.