Fukuoka City Needs 282 Smoking Areas

Planworks Policy Research Institute has published the report, "On the Development of Smoking Areas in Fukuoka City."

In recent years, with the enforcement of the revised Health Promotion Act, which strengthened measures against passive smoking indoors, smoking behavior has shifted outdoors, bringing new challenges to light. In light of this situation, our institute has conducted independent surveys to calculate the necessary number of smoking areas in major cities.

This report, as part of that effort, verifies the current state of the smoking environment and the direction of smoking separation facility development in Fukuoka City, which has implemented unique measures such as designating the Tenjin/Daimyo area and around Hakata Station as "no-smoking streets."

<Report Summary>

* Estimated 282 smoking areas needed in Fukuoka City. * Estimated 54 smoking areas needed within the "no-smoking streets" designated by Fukuoka City. * Demand for smoking areas is particularly high in Hakata Ward and Chuo Ward, necessitating strategic placement in "no-smoking streets" like Hakata Station area, Tenjin, and Daimyo, as well as tourist and business hubs. * In addition to the quantitative development of public smoking areas, it is also important to comprehensively promote soft measures such as clear signage for public smoking areas and multilingual public awareness. * Our institute hopes that this report will be utilized as a reference for future consideration by local governments and businesses to formulate concrete measures that simultaneously achieve thorough smoking separation and improve disaster prevention and urban aesthetics.

<About Planworks Policy Research Institute>

"Planworks Policy Research Institute" (formerly Trend Lab) is a specialized unit that conducts independent research and analysis on administrative and social issues as a policy research think tank that creates next-generation planning.

We aim to reflect the knowledge gained from this in policy recommendations and report production, as well as in the design of concrete plans and measures, functioning as a partner for both government and businesses.