The economic impact of a smoking ban by the smoke-free legislation

Abstract

As of 2018, there are 62 countries around the world that have banned indoor smoking at all public places by law. In Japan, the Health Promotion Law was revised in 2018 and enforced from April 1, 2020. Government/municipal offices, hospitals, schools and universities should implement entire smoke-free premises (outdoor smoking corner/room is allowed). As for the private sectors including hospitality industry are required smoke-free policy (indoor designated smoking rooms are allowed). However, small restaurants and bars (capital of 50,000,000 yen or less, seating area of 100 m2 or less) that is 55% of all could select “smoking” as a transitional measure. Moreover, rooms where heated tobacco products can used while eating and drinking are also permitted in restaurants and bars.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Cancer Prevention Handbook featured 86 research papers that showed “there was no negative economic impact from the smoke-free policy ban on restaurant and bars.” In this study, we reviewed high quality papers from the IARC Cancer Prevention Handbook and a systematic review published in 2014. There was no negative economic impact from smoke-free policies based on objective measures such as taxable sales or revenue, number of jobs, number of stores by the service industry, restaurants/bars and the accommodation and entertainment industry.

We expect a complete smoke-free law that bans smoking in all public places including restaurants and bars will be established in the next revision that is planned 5 years later.