Here is a situation you will rarely find in the United States. For a moment, imagine you are sitting near the kitchen of an outdoor restaurant when, near the food that is cooking on a grill, one of the customers decides to light up a cigarette. In our country (and Australia, for that matter), this would be unbelievably uncivil, but this situation is far too common in Japan. In an unlikely twist, one of the most advanced countries on the planet is still succumbing to what is now considered a taboo practice. So why is Japan still sticking to old-school smoking laws? Let’s take a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun and find out.
Fix Those Smoking Laws
In a recent interview with ABC Australia, Shigefumi Matsuzawa, MP of the Japanese Upper House, describes Japan as a country with old-fashioned rules about smoking. Although its technology is pushing forward into the next century, its ideas about cigarettes, including rules for smoking in public, are rooted in 20th-century social stigmas.
Even more interesting, regulators are duking it out with Japanese restaurants about smoking laws, in light of the 2020 Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo.
Ruining Customer Networks
Ultimately, restaurant owners are convinced that an outdoor smoking ban would drive away from customer networks. One noodle restaurant owner has pointed out how he allows some patrons to smoke in the evening as a release from work, but has prohibited cigarettes during daylight hours. Some restaurant owners have agreed and believe they would not have the resources to adhere to these laws.
Needless to say, rates in Japan are not as high as those of its neighbor China, which isn’t saying much. ABC News reports that 19% of Japanese people who are 20 years and older smoke, while 22% of Chinese people in the same age range smoke (not a big gap). However, compare those numbers to the 13% of Australians who smoke.
Seeking Treatment for Cigarette Use
Remember that addiction can be triggered by one shot of alcohol or a single puff of a cigarette, but the true danger of this sickness is that you cannot fully determine how much you have to consume before your mind forms an attachment. Social smoking is just as dangerous as chronic smoking, on many levels, but you do not have to smoke to have a good time. Remember, drugs cannot determine if you have fun and do not have control over your life.
If you are suffering from a severe case of drug abuse or addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.
