Fukuoka City Needs 282 Smoking Areas

Plan Works Policy Research Institute has published a report titled "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 indoor secondhand smoke, smoking behaviors have shifted outdoors, bringing new challenges to light. Given this situation, our institute has conducted an independent survey to calculate the necessary number of smoking areas in major cities. As part of this effort, this report verifies the current state of the smoking environment and the direction of developing separated smoking facilities in Fukuoka City, which has implemented unique measures such as designating the Tenjin/Daimyo areas and the vicinity of Hakata Station as "street smoking prohibited areas." Estimated that 282 smoking areas are needed in Fukuoka City. Estimated that 54 smoking areas are required within the "street smoking prohibited areas" designated by Fukuoka City. The demand for smoking areas in Hakata Ward and Chuo Ward is outstanding, making it necessary to strategically place them in "street smoking prohibited areas" such as around Hakata Station and the Tenjin/Daimyo areas, as well as at tourism and business hubs. In addition to the quantitative development of public smoking areas, it is also important to comprehensively advance software measures, such as distinctive signage for public smoking areas and multilingual awareness campaigns. As an institute, we hope that this report will be utilized as a reference for future discussions, enabling local governments and businesses to formulate concrete measures that simultaneously achieve thorough separation of smoking areas, disaster prevention, and the enhancement of cityscapes. "Plan Works 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 creating next-generation planning. We aim to reflect the insights gained there not only in policy recommendations and report production but also in the design of concrete plans and measures, functioning as a partner for both public administration and corporations.