Taipei City Sets Up Negative-Pressure Smoking Rooms; Civil Groups: First Implement Full Indoor Smoking Ban
Taipei City has activated its first batch of negative-pressure smoking rooms, but the Taiwan Tobacco Control Alliance argues that promoting smoke-free cities means first implementing a complete indoor smoking ban, then designated outdoor smoking areas. They contend that negative-pressure smoking rooms cannot fully prevent second-hand smoke, and helping people quit smoking is the crucial factor.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 17:35
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 7th) Taipei City's first batch of negative-pressure smoking rooms has been activated. The Taiwan Tobacco Control Alliance states that promoting smoke-free cities does not equate to setting up enclosed negative-pressure smoking rooms; instead, a complete indoor smoking ban should first be implemented, followed by designated outdoor smoking areas. Furthermore, negative-pressure smoking rooms cannot completely avoid second-hand smoke, and helping people quit smoking is the key.
The Taiwan Tobacco Control Alliance stated in a press release today that it recommends promoting a truly healthy smoke-free environment by starting with a 100% indoor smoking ban, then moving towards designated outdoor smoking areas. Lin Ching-li, Director of the John Tung Foundation Tobacco Control Center, added that the World Health Organization (WHO) constantly reminds that promoting a smoke-free environment must proceed from inside out, first achieving a complete indoor smoking ban, then promoting designated outdoor smoking.
Chang Wen-chang, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Co-prosperity Promotion Association, stated that if enclosed smoking rooms are set up in outdoor public places, it transforms "outdoor smoking" into "indoor smoking," increasing the harm of second-hand and third-hand smoke to smokers, and further harming the health of cleaning staff. Given Taiwan's hot and humid climate, air conditioning would inevitably need to be installed, further increasing energy waste.
Wang Han-yang, Chairman of the National Education Action Alliance, pointed out that the goal of smoke-free cities is to reduce the smoking rate, and only "open smoking areas" can achieve this goal, because open smoking areas are set up in places away from crowds, greatly reducing the convenience of smoking, which will inhibit smoking behavior and guide smokers to quit.
Wang Han-yang believes that "enclosed smoking rooms" mistakenly assume that negative pressure prevents second-hand smoke harm. If placed in crowded areas, they反而 make it easier for smokers to continue smoking, and the smell of smoke will overflow, failing to achieve the effect of "not smelling smoke."
The Taiwan Tobacco Control Alliance stated that a 2023 study by Kyoto Women's University in Japan found that the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in enclosed smoking rooms with high-specification air conditioning equipment exceeded the air quality standard alert value. Even PM2.5 measured 5 meters outside the entrance exceeded the daily average value of air pollution set by the Ministry of Environment; this shows that even in high-specification negative-pressure enclosed smoking rooms, second-hand smoke cannot be completely prevented from spreading.
Tao Lien-sheng, Chairman of the National Alliance of Parents Associations, said that the installation of outdoor smoking rooms, according to law, requires independent compartments, independent air conditioning, negative pressure design, and parallel-opening automatic doors, incurring high construction, operation, and maintenance costs. When the effect of "not smelling smoke" cannot be achieved, yet hundreds of thousands to millions of New Taiwan Dollars are spent on installation, it is clearly not cost-effective. Helping smokers quit is the key. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 7th) Taipei City's first batch of negative-pressure smoking rooms has been activated. The Taiwan Tobacco Control Alliance states that promoting smoke-free cities does not equate to setting up enclosed negative-pressure smoking rooms; instead, a complete indoor smoking ban should first be implemented, followed by designated outdoor smoking areas. Furthermore, negative-pressure smoking rooms cannot completely avoid second-hand smoke, and helping people quit smoking is the key.
The Taiwan Tobacco Control Alliance stated in a press release today that it recommends promoting a truly healthy smoke-free environment by starting with a 100% indoor smoking ban, then moving towards designated outdoor smoking areas. Lin Ching-li, Director of the John Tung Foundation Tobacco Control Center, added that the World Health Organization (WHO) constantly reminds that promoting a smoke-free environment must proceed from inside out, first achieving a complete indoor smoking ban, then promoting designated outdoor smoking.
Chang Wen-chang, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Co-prosperity Promotion Association, stated that if enclosed smoking rooms are set up in outdoor public places, it transforms "outdoor smoking" into "indoor smoking," increasing the harm of second-hand and third-hand smoke to smokers, and further harming the health of cleaning staff. Given Taiwan's hot and humid climate, air conditioning would inevitably need to be installed, further increasing energy waste.
Wang Han-yang, Chairman of the National Education Action Alliance, pointed out that the goal of smoke-free cities is to reduce the smoking rate, and only "open smoking areas" can achieve this goal, because open smoking areas are set up in places away from crowds, greatly reducing the convenience of smoking, which will inhibit smoking behavior and guide smokers to quit.
Wang Han-yang believes that "enclosed smoking rooms" mistakenly assume that negative pressure prevents second-hand smoke harm. If placed in crowded areas, they反而 make it easier for smokers to continue smoking, and the smell of smoke will overflow, failing to achieve the effect of "not smelling smoke."
The Taiwan Tobacco Control Alliance stated that a 2023 study by Kyoto Women's University in Japan found that the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in enclosed smoking rooms with high-specification air conditioning equipment exceeded the air quality standard alert value. Even PM2.5 measured 5 meters outside the entrance exceeded the daily average value of air pollution set by the Ministry of Environment; this shows that even in high-specification negative-pressure enclosed smoking rooms, second-hand smoke cannot be completely prevented from spreading.
Tao Lien-sheng, Chairman of the National Alliance of Parents Associations, said that the installation of outdoor smoking rooms, according to law, requires independent compartments, independent air conditioning, negative pressure design, and parallel-opening automatic doors, incurring high construction, operation, and maintenance costs. When the effect of "not smelling smoke" cannot be achieved, yet hundreds of thousands to millions of New Taiwan Dollars are spent on installation, it is clearly not cost-effective. Helping smokers quit is the key. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship of yours is a power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.