2. Basic concepts of guidelines for smoking restriction in public places
(1) Basic principles of smoking restriction in public places
[1] It is necessary to promote smoking restriction, with the goal of eliminating or reducing the health effects and discomfort caused to non-smokers by passive smoking, in public places which are used by indefinitely large numbers of people out of social necessity.
[2] In promoting smoking restriction measures, there is a need for thorough consideration, founded on a basic awareness of passive smoking and the present situation with regard to tobacco, to be made in the coordination of social life including efforts to achieve a consensus between non-smokers and smokers.
(2) Basic matters concerning smoking restriction
[1] There are various smoking restriction methods, from providing a completely separated space as a smoking area to designating times when smoking is prohibited and times when smoking is allowed. To eliminate or reduce the effects of passive smoking, smoking restriction should be achieved by physical separation.
[2] Since public places have many different characteristics, including the scale and structure of facilities and usage situations, appropriate smoking restriction measures should be actively promoted in accordance with the facility conditions and the needs of visitors. The social roles of the facilities should also be considered carefully in selecting smoking restriction methods.
[3] In smoking areas, it is necessary to actively utilize air cleaning equipment (equipment to exhaust environmental tobacco smoke outside the building, air purification machines, equipment to separate smoking areas from other zones, and combinations of the above) according to need. Also, when introducing air cleaning equipment, consideration should be given to uneven scattering of environmental tobacco smoke and the flow of varying concentrations of smoke.
[4] In places where smoking restriction is performed, non-smoking and smoking areas should be marked clearly, and the public should be made aware of the smoking restriction. Also, visitors and so on should be informed concerning smoking restriction, and their understanding and cooperation should be solicited. It is particularly necessary to call on smokers to respect the designated smoking areas as a social rule.
[5] The goal of this report is not regulation, but to recommend suitable guidelines for smoking restriction in various public places. It would be appropriate for the parties promoting smoking restriction in public places to further develop their independent actions in promoting smoking restriction measures, taking the contents of this report as a reference.