What will happen to smoking areas due to the revised Health Promotion Act and the corona crisis?
While smoking rules are changing due to the revision of the Health Promotion Act, on June 1, a new form of smoking area "THE TOBACCO" aiming for coexistence of non-smokers and smokers will open in Kanda. Opened in Akasaka. We interviewed Cosodo Co., Ltd., which operates the facility, about the characteristics of "THE TOBACCO" and what it aims to achieve.
Revised Health Promotion Law and Smoking Area Refugees Emerged by the Corona Crisis
While the world was shaken by the spread of the new coronavirus, a part of the Health Promotion Law was finally enacted on April 1. Act to amend the "(Revised Health Promotion Act). After the state of emergency was lifted, many people must have remembered the existence of coffee shops and restaurants that they hadn't been able to smoke in a long time.
According to the revised Health Promotion Act, in addition to smoking on the street, smoking indoors is obligatory as a general rule. Although it is possible to smoke in the facility only in facilities where smoking is the main purpose and existing small-scale restaurants, there is no doubt that the space where smoking is allowed has decreased substantially.
As a result, more people are gathering in smoking areas than before, but now that the corona wreck has closed, some facilities are closed as "three dense" spaces, and on the contrary, street smokers and cigarette butts It is also a situation where littering appears.
A Space for Innovation in Smoking Areas
Under these circumstances, Kosodo started experimenting with operating smoking areas. The company opened a smoking area "THE TOBACCO" in Akasaka, Kanda on June 1, aiming for a society where non-smokers and smokers can coexist comfortably.
The interior, designed by interior designer Shuhei Yoneda, is clean and spacious unlike any other smoking area. High-quality speakers play music in a space that has a minimalist and modern atmosphere, but with a sense of attention to detail. It creates a comfortable smoking experience.
One of the features is a powerful air purification system that takes into consideration the surrounding environment and the odors left by smokers. The smoke exhaust output adjustment, dust collector, and air conditioning are combined to create a sufficient amount of ventilation to quickly replace the air in the smoking area without causing it to stagnate. The output is adjusted according to the time of day in consideration of the number of users, and it is said that the inside of the smoking area is finished in a well-balanced space.
A coffee stand is installed in the smoking area, offering coffee, cafe lattes, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, etc., as well as related goods such as original lighters, ashtrays, and T-shirts. Tobacco sales are also planned and will be available as soon as preparations are complete.
"I want to become an ally of smokers who tend to hate me and help people who don't smoke." do not have. On the contrary, it is said that the store system is also the first attempt. "I wanted to do something socially meaningful, so I started operating a smoking area," said Goro Yamashita, the company's president.
"As the revised Health Promotion Law reduces the number of places where you can smoke, I heard many people, especially foreigners, say, 'I don't know where to smoke.' It turns out that there is a high demand for smoking areas, not only for those who smoke, but also for those who do not smoke.Smoking itself is not a bad thing.The smoking area is not a narrow space, but a place where people who want to smoke can smoke comfortably. I wanted to
"THE TOBACCO" mainly targets places such as business districts and shopping districts. This is because the operation of the store is covered by the sales of beverages and goods, advertising revenue, and event revenue. To set up a smoking area in such a place would require permission from the building owner, local residents, and approval from the local government, but so far the majority of the responses have been positive, saying, "It's good if it reduces smoking on the street."
"The smoking area is a facility that has the function of gathering people. By installing it, we can expect to attract customers to the surrounding facilities. However, on the other hand, it is also a cost center that requires great consideration for air conditioning, etc. Our company. By bearing the cost, the owner should be able to expect the effect of attracting customers without considering the cost, and in some cases, the value of the building may increase by attracting customers.Smoking areas are often disliked, but we I want to create a win-win relationship between non-smokers and smokers."
"THE TOBACCO" is registered as a designated smoking area by the municipality, and is displayed on the map as an official smoking area recognized by the municipality. Also, the fact that it is licensed by the local government means that the standards such as air conditioning equipment are definitely met.
"From a social point of view, cigarettes are something that can be avoided, and the number of people who smoke in our company is a minority. However, it would be boring if tobacco culture and tobacco art expressions disappeared from the world. I I want to innovate the way smoking is done.I want to be on the side of smokers who tend to hate me, and I want to help people who don't smoke.I want to create business through smoking places."
"THE TOBACCO" plans to open 4 stores in Tokyo in 2020, 6 stores in Tokyo in 2021, and 7 stores outside of Tokyo. It is probably the first attempt in Japan to create a brand with only a smoking area. I would like to pay attention to the future trends of "THE TOBACCO", which throws a stir on the tobacco problem, which tends to divide public opinion.