Hi again everybody, I wanted to know what taiwanese society think about smoking? (and i dont want the typical answer .".it depends on each person", thanks) is it good if i’m on the street and i smoke just like that? … because i remember in the university back in the U.S … i couldnt smoke in public places, even if they were outdoors. so any good regarding this topic would be nice since i want to avoid embarrassing moments at my arrival.
thanks
There is a huge percentage of the population here that smokes and even though laws were introduced a few years back about smoking a lot of people choose to ignore them. When the laws were introduced my mother who was visiting lit up a cig at a bus stop and got an awful lot of dirty looks but fast forward a few years and people are smoking at the door to my local familymart so mch so that I can’t get in without reeking of smoke. The law I think states that if an area is designed for more than three people like say the park or a store then it’s illegal. You might want to check that but I’m pretty sure it’s right. As for etiquette I have two kids but it doesn’t seem to stop people lighting up when standing next to us. Personally I think it’s rude but I’m a non smoker. I reckon you’ll be fine to smoke when out and about. Just see if anyone else is. I think sandman mentioned in one of your other posts about smoking and flicking from balconies, that for sure will piss your neighbors off.
You’ll be flying what, 12-15 hours to get here? Perfect time to quit. Then you won’t have to worry about what the etiquette is.
The dudes on f1.com.tw/man.html video chat whip 'em out on a regular basis…
…and smoke a lot of cigarettes too. I can’t imagine smoking in my bedroom.
There is such a thing as smoking etiquette? 
I have been to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and currently live in Shanghai. Out of all those places, I’d have to say that Taiwan is the best in terms of smoker etiquette.
Koreans are not too bad, but they smoke everywhere although they are able to dispose of their cigs in a clean manner. Bathrooms in Korea always smell like cig smoke. I was surprised with how many smokers there were in Japan, it’s seems like everyone smokes almost everywhere. i was really surprised to see people smoking inside my hotel and inside restaruants and such. China is the worst, people will smoke in the subway bathroom or smoke inside the subway station. Clear signs that say no smoking are ignored, and even when I visit my own service providers I see people at that office lighting up a cig. I remember once in China I saw this one professional guy in his suit smoking 4 cigs in a high class restaruant and hiding his cig underneath the table everytime the waiter came by. It was like high school all over again.
Anyhow, I’d say Taiwanese are the best in Asia for smoking etiquette. If you inform them to please stop smoking where there are blatant signs that say no smoking, they will indeed stop. When I go into buildings in Taiwan it doesn’t reek like cigs the way it does here in Shanghai sometimes.
I guess a lot of Europeans don’t think about this…
In New York and a bunch of other states it is illegal to smoke:
in or near a school
in a restaurant
in a bar/concert hall
near the entrance to a lot of places like office buildings and such
public transportation
public parks
private theme parks (but there are usually designated spots marked by a large rectangle or something)
I have never once seen a person disregard this- unless they are not American. And then they get nasty dirty looks- even from smokers themselves.
Its simply a “You no do” thing here.
I guess a lot of Europeans don’t think about this…
In New York and a bunch of other states it is illegal to smoke:
in or near a school
in a restaurant
in a bar/concert hall
near the entrance to a lot of places like office buildings and such
public transportation
public parks
private theme parks (but there are usually designated spots marked by a large rectangle or something)
I have never once seen a person disregard this- unless they are not American. And then they get nasty dirty looks- even from smokers themselves.
Its simply a “You no do” thing here.[/quote]
OK, I’ll rephrase … etiquette has to do with manners … now hindering other people with smoke is not likely any etiquette …
It’s not much different in Taipei than from most major cities in the US. No smoking in public indoor places (including bars and restaurants) or in public transport; no smoking in any place you see a no smoking sign. That said, there are plenty of people who smoke here, though it seems fewer people do now than 20 years ago. It used to be common for men to offer cigs to other men as a courtesy; it’s almost unheard of now, at least in the big city.
Thanks everybody for the info about the smoking habits of other nationalities and your concern for smokers’ health. :raspberry:
Now, concerning smoking in Taipei, newgaytpei:
I think Deuce Dropper is right in this thread: http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=101040&hilit=smoking. You can still smoke in many clubs in Taipei if they are clubs that open their doors late. Restaurants sometimes have ashtrays outside the front door for smokers.
You can smoke outside, but you are not supposed to smoke near bus stations. I’m not sure about parks, but I wouldn’t try it. Campuses are non-smoking. This means that at my school everybody rushes for the gate during break times. To avoid adding my cigarette butts to the sad-looking piles my students create outside the gate, I have a portable bag/ashtray designed for disposal of cigarettes.
Hotels are non-smoking (I have been to one hotel with a smoking area such as you would find at an airport, though), but sometimes you can smell that the guests previously in your room didn’t follow policy.
As I know you won’t be blowing smoke into kids faces or anything like that, you won’t get too many dirty looks. Non-smoking campaigns and encouraging people to stop smoking are quite popular now - but quite a large number of Taiwanese (male and female) do still smoke.