The health ministry is considering a legal revision to ban smoking in public areas to help bring Japan's battle against secondhand smoke in line with the global standard ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an official said Tuesday.
It remains unclear, however, how forceful a step the ministry can take toward stamping out the nation's long-standing tolerance of secondhand smoke in public facilities, as it faces staunch resistance from those in the restaurant and hotel industries who cater to smokers.
The ministry is currently in the process of mapping out details on an amendment it hopes to submit to the Diet during this legislative session, possibly as soon as early March, an official in charge of health service said, declining to be named.
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