Taipei: Smoking Ban in Convenience Stores and Coffee Shops to Take Effect on September 1

Taipei, Taiwan had issued an announcement about the restriction in allowing people to smoke in front of 15 convenience stores and cafes situated in the city. This city law will start its implementation on September 1, 2019.

According to CNA, Huang Shier-chieg, the head of Taipei’s department of health, had released a statement on Monday. The statement includes the ban of smoking in front of convenience stores and cafes which will be effective starting September 1 this year. People who will be found violating the said city law will be charged to pay fines of between NT $2,000 to NT $10,000. The law is called the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.





The convenience stores and cafes affected by the smoking ban in Taipei include 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, OK Mart, Simple Mart, Hi-Life, Starbucks, 85’ C Café, Louisa Coffee, Mr. Brown Coffee, Dante Coffee, Ikari Coffee, Barista Coffee, Cama Coffee, Crown & Fancy, and Peter Better Café.

According to Huang, the ban on smoking in front of the convenience stores and cafes is only applicable to the first floor of their buildings and that there were no restrictions as to the second floor of these establishments.

Based on Huang’s statement, there are 2,569 smoke-free areas in Taipei. Residents of Taipei support the ban of smoking in arcades. The smoking ban will also cover the arcades located in front of convenience stores and cafes in Taipei.




A ban on smoking will also be implemented by New Taipei in their pedestrian arcades around convenience stores and cafes. This will also take effect on September 1 of this year.
According to Sun Li-chiang, a branch manager of Ikari Coffee, customers smoke in front of their coffee shop while drinking a cup of coffee. They even request the café’s staff for ashtrays. The smell coming from the customers’ cigarette leaves a strong smell in their shop. He is looking forward to the implementation of the ban on smoking on September 1.

According to Hsu Hong-wen, a manager of Hilife, lots of customers complain about their discomfort on people who smoke near their tables. He added in his statement that the smoking ban will help them address the concerns of their non-smoking customers.