Taipei adds two smoke-free commercial districts on August 1; 70% of businesses in Chifeng Street, 90% in Dihua Street support policy

Taipei is intensifying its smoke-free city campaign by designating two new commercial districts as no-smoking zones starting August 1. The Zhongshan Line Xingsheng Park area and the Dihua Street area will join Ximending as areas where smoking is banned outside of specific, designated smoking facilities.

The city's commercial department reported strong support from local businesses for the new policy. In the Zhongshan area, which includes 442 surveyed businesses, 70.6% expressed support for the smoke-free initiative. The Dihua Street area saw even higher backing, with 94.4% of its 124 surveyed businesses in favor.

These new zones will prohibit smoking outside of designated areas, with violators facing fines between NT$2,000 and NT$10,000, according to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act. The city has established negative pressure smoking rooms and green hedge smoking areas within these districts to accommodate smokers. The commercial department noted that the Ximending smoke-free district, implemented in June, has effectively separated smokers and non-smokers, with 99.4% of businesses there willing to cooperate with the policy.

Taipei now boasts 274 designated smoking areas across the city, with a map available on the Taipei Tong app, Taipei Metro GO, and Now Play Taipei app for public convenience. The city also encourages residents seeking to quit smoking to utilize resources provided by the Department of Health, including counseling, cessation classes, and a free quit-smoking hotline.