A local government in central Japan has ordered smokers to complete a 45-minute “decontamination period” between stubbing out their last cigarette and using lifts in the city hall.
Staff at the administrative offices of the city of Ikoma, in Nara Prefecture, are being told to either take the stairs after a cigarette break or to wait for three quarters of an hour before using an elevator in the five-storey building.
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The new regulation was introduced because “exhaled air from smokers could cause passive smoking and the impact is especially serious in closed spaces”, the local government said.
The office has, however, stopped short of imposing punishments upon anyone who ignores the rule.
“This is one measure we can take against the problem of passive smoking and we believe it is really important for human health, especially for children and pregnant women”, said Kosuke Izumi, a city government official.
Mr Izumi – not a smoker himself – says that city employees “understand and accept” the reasoning behind the ban, although some of the smokers have grumbled.
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Perhaps surprisingly, opinions among local residents have been split 50-50 among those who support the ban and those who question whether it will have any impact, Mr Izumi said.
Ikoma has been aggressive in introducing a series of anti-smoking regulations across the community of 121,000 residents, with a fine of 20,000 Japanese yen (£131) coming into force in June for anyone caught smoking on roads close to the town’s railway station.
Elsewhere, local governments are introducing similar punishments for unrepentant smokers, while a number of companies are attempting to wean their staff off tobacco with inducements.
In October, Tokyo-based marketing firm Piala Inc began granting non-smoking employees an extra six days of paid holiday after they complained that they were working more than staff who took time off for cigarette breaks.
Lawson Inc, which operates 24-hour stores across the country, has banned smoking in its head office and regional offices and more local governments are introducing spot fines for anyone caught smoking outside designated areas.
According to the World Health Organisation, some 21.7 per cent of Japanese adults smoke, although the figure is higher among men and older generations. That is compared with 22 per cent in China. Last year smoking rates in the UK fell to 15.8 per cent, the second lowest in Europe.