Preliminary Consensus Reached on Outdoor Smoking Area Setup: Away from Entrances, Emphasizing Ventilation
Taiwan has indoor smoking bans, but outdoor smoking remains largely unrestricted, with 48.9% exposure to secondhand smoke outdoors. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is promoting a smoke-free city, considering outdoor negative-pressure smoking rooms in Zhongshan and Ximen commercial districts. The National Health Agency (NHA) held an expert meeting, reaching a preliminary consensus that outdoor smoking areas should be non-enclosed, away from building entrances, main public passages, and crowded areas, with adequate height and good ventilation. The NHA respects local governments' plans based on regional characteristics and public demand.
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- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 17:40
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 18:00 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 19:49 (169h 49m after Collected)
Taiwan has long implemented indoor smoking bans, but outdoor smoking is not clearly restricted, rendering no-smoking signs ineffective. With no one managing or advising, non-smokers in Taiwan's streets still have nowhere to escape. According to a 2024 National Health Agency (NHA) survey, the outdoor secondhand smoke exposure rate reached 48.9%, with roads, streets, and arcades being the primary "disaster areas" for outdoor secondhand smoke.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is planning to promote a smoke-free city, initially selecting the crowded Zhongshan and Ximen commercial districts to set up outdoor negative-pressure smoking rooms. Kuomintang legislator Chen Ching-hui questioned in mid-March that there are no unified standards for outdoor smoking rooms in Taiwan. At that time, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan promised that the NHA would convene an expert meeting by the end of March to discuss the matter, and the Taipei City Government would provide planning data.
The NHA today provided a written explanation to the Central News Agency reporter regarding the preliminary consensus of the meeting. It had invited scholars, experts, and representatives from local governments to a meeting at the end of March to collect international experience and local practical opinions. Internationally, if outdoor smoking rooms are set up, most adopt a "non-enclosed" design, with the principle of being away from building entrances, main public passages, and crowded areas.
The NHA stated that the setup of outdoor smoking rooms should maintain an appropriate height and good ventilation, while avoiding direct smoke dispersion and not spreading towards areas with more pedestrian traffic. Integrating international experience and expert recommendations, the setup of outdoor smoking rooms, in addition to location selection, should also consider subsequent maintenance and management costs to ensure the feasibility of the measures.
The NHA further explained that protecting public health and gradually promoting a smoke-free environment are the core principles of tobacco hazard prevention policies. It respects local governments' plans for no-smoking measures and smoking spaces based on urban development characteristics and public demand. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150408
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is planning to promote a smoke-free city, initially selecting the crowded Zhongshan and Ximen commercial districts to set up outdoor negative-pressure smoking rooms. Kuomintang legislator Chen Ching-hui questioned in mid-March that there are no unified standards for outdoor smoking rooms in Taiwan. At that time, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan promised that the NHA would convene an expert meeting by the end of March to discuss the matter, and the Taipei City Government would provide planning data.
The NHA today provided a written explanation to the Central News Agency reporter regarding the preliminary consensus of the meeting. It had invited scholars, experts, and representatives from local governments to a meeting at the end of March to collect international experience and local practical opinions. Internationally, if outdoor smoking rooms are set up, most adopt a "non-enclosed" design, with the principle of being away from building entrances, main public passages, and crowded areas.
The NHA stated that the setup of outdoor smoking rooms should maintain an appropriate height and good ventilation, while avoiding direct smoke dispersion and not spreading towards areas with more pedestrian traffic. Integrating international experience and expert recommendations, the setup of outdoor smoking rooms, in addition to location selection, should also consider subsequent maintenance and management costs to ensure the feasibility of the measures.
The NHA further explained that protecting public health and gradually promoting a smoke-free environment are the core principles of tobacco hazard prevention policies. It respects local governments' plans for no-smoking measures and smoking spaces based on urban development characteristics and public demand. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150408