The number of non-smoking restaurants across the nation is slated to increase five-fold over the next year, an official with the Bureau of Health Promotion announced yesterday afternoon.
"Non-smoking restaurants are a global trend now. In Ireland and Australia, legislation prohibiting smoking in restaurants has already been passed," said Lin Shio-jean (
While restaurants in Taiwan are not required to prohibit smoking, Lin noted yesterday that restaurants of at least 200m2 are required to establish non-smoking areas. According to the Tobacco Hazards Act (菸害防制法), violators can be fined up to NT$30,000.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MIN, TAIPEI TIMES
"About 15 percent of the complaints that we receive on our hotline pertain to smoking at restaurants," Lin said.
According to a survey conducted recently by Taipei Medical University, 90 percent of the 2,900 people surveyed expressed support for government-mandated smoke-free restaurants.
Ninety-one percent of respondents said they would be willing to dine at smoke-free restaurants and 90 percent expressed satisfaction with the quality of the air at restaurants that are recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) as smoke-free.
A similar survey into the views of restaurant owners found that 88 percent did not believe that a smoke-free environment would drive consumers away.
The survey received responses from 450 restaurants around the nation.
While only 770 restaurants are now registered with the DOH as smoke-free, the Bureau of Health Promotion plans to expedite establishing such restaurants by setting a goal of 5,000 by the end of this year.
"In general, Taipei has the best environment for smoke-free restaurants. The program for smoke-free restaurants began earlier in Taipei City, four years ago, and there are more restaurants in the city overall," Lin said.
"Right now, what we need to do is educate consumers so that they don't feel that they have to put up with second-hand smoke when they dine out," Lin said.
In order to promote smoke-free restaurants, the bureau is sponsoring a raffle in which 90 contestants a month who recommend a favorite smoke-free restaurant at http://health99.doh.gov.tw will be eligible for gift certificates to smoke-free restaurants.
In addition, the bureau will offer subsidies for advertising and opportunities for coverage in gourmet magazines to restaurants that register with the DOH as smoke-free.
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