I think it's the step in the right direction. They are following in the footsteps of many other countries who recognize smoking is unhealthy and a detriment to all.I would support any legislation banning smoking all together and I would think that Japan should be at the forefront of that fight as a modern nation in the 21st century.
There is of course the "health concerns" which is primary concern for second hand smoke and people who do not choose to smoke, because we are subjected to second hand smoke whether or not we like it or not. The Tobacco lobby is really at fault, they make a lot of money as does the governments, on the tax on a packet of cigarettes and so there is no real incentive for the government to ban smoking which is something that most people are not aware of.
The other thing is that, smoking is a habit that affects others whereas other bad habits such as drug use, fatty foods, extreme sports if that's your thing, do not affect others. If you kill yourself or if you become fat from eating too many hamburgers that's not affecting me, when you choose to smoke in an area where I am in as well and others who may not smoke, you are affecting them. Obviously, banning smoking or even prohibiting smoking in certain areas provides a mandate that needs to be upheld by some force of law whether that be police or otherwise which forces the industry underground which has problems in itself but forcing the industry underground also deprives them of the light of day which means that many people will be forced to find other jobs and perhaps less damaging businesses.
Smoking bans in other countries have been very successful. My home country, in the Netherlands, smoking is banned in all public places, including bars, which of course there was an outcry for at first, but the next generation will grow up never knowing that smoking in bars and restaurants or other public places was an option and therefore they will not miss it. If they continue to want to smoke, they can do so in the privacy of their own homes or apartments and even in designated smoking areas. But I think those are going to disappear in the long run as well because everyone recognizes and agrees that smoking is detrimental to everyone's health. Though I don't think that the government exists to ban smoking or other personal decisions, smoking has become about more than just the individual smoker. It's a large lobby with political ties and the money gained from cigarette sales, tobacco sales, help fund campaigns for politicians and I don't think the two should be related.
いい最初の一歩だと思うな。日本は、喫煙が体に悪いものだと目覚めた国々の後を追いはじめたところじゃないかな。全面的な禁煙令が出れば支持します。日本は、21世紀における近代国家として、先頭に立って禁煙を進めるべきだと思う。
煙草を吸わない人たちにとって、一番迷惑なことは、「自動的に健康を侵されている」ていうのがあるとおもう。だって、喫煙者の近くにいるだけで、自分の体に害が及んでいるんだから。政府もそうだけど、タバコの圧力団体に責任があると思う。たばこの税で金儲けをしているんだから。だから、禁煙をすすめることは、政府にとっては意味のないことなんだと思う — これに気付いている人はあまりいないみたいだけれど。
もう一つ言えることは、喫煙は、特殊な習慣であるということ。それは、例えば「ドラッグ」や「偏食」や「過激なスポーツ」といった習慣とは違い、人に害を及ぼす習慣だ。たとえばだれかが自殺をしたり、ハンバーガーの食べすぎで太ってしまっても、それは自分に直接の害はない。でも、たばこを吸われると、そうはいかない。禁煙を推し進めるには法律や警察など、上からの力が必要だと思う。そうでなければ、業界は、(問題の根源でもある)アンダーグラウンドの存在とともに、より間違った方向に進んでしまうことになると思う。でも、いずれは 彼らも人体に害を及ぼさないビジネスについたり、転職せざるをえなくなる日がくると思うけれどね。
禁煙対策は、ほかの国ではとてもうまくいっていると思う。現に、僕の国のオランダでは、バーなどを含むすべての公の場所でたばこは吸えなくなっている。最初はもちろん、騒がれたけれど。でも、この習慣になれた次の世代では、もうそれが当たり前になっていて、「公の場所で喫煙していた」という古き良き時代を恋しがることはないんだ。もし、それでもたばこを吸いたければ、自分の家か決められた場所で吸えばいいことだよね。でも、結局はそういった喫煙場所もなくなるんではないか?というのが僕の自論だ。それは、みんなが、その害に気づき始めたから。もう一つ言えることは、喫煙は、個人の問題ではなくなってきたということ。政治的な側面や金儲けが背後でからんでいるから。僕は、そのつながりがあってはならないことだと思っている。
Arne Van Lamoen (Netherlands)