TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A proposal to ban smoking while walking has reached the support threshold on Taiwan’s public policy participation platform.

A survey by the Health Promotion Administration found that 48.9% of respondents reported encountering secondhand smoke in public last year.

Submitted on Sept. 26, the petition says pedestrians cannot avoid smoke in public spaces, with children, pregnant women, and older adults most affected. It calls for prohibiting smoking while walking and gradually expanding outdoor smoke-free rules to all public areas.

The administration said it will contact the petitioner within two weeks to learn more about the proposal and will issue a formal response by Jan. 15. The review will include input from local governments and ministries before determining next steps.

The petition also urges eliminating designated smoking areas, saying they create regulatory loopholes. Clearer rules, signage, public education, and stronger enforcement, it says, would better protect non-smokers and improve urban cleanliness.

Supporters commenting on the platform said outdoor public areas should be completely smoke-free, with some suggesting enclosed smoking booths instead of open-air smoking.

Taiwan’s indoor smoking ban since 2009 has reduced indoor exposure, dropping from 27.8% in 2008 to 3.2% last year. However, shifting smokers outdoors has made secondhand smoke in public spaces a growing concern.

The administration says the most common places where people reported exposure were streets and sidewalks at 27.9%, followed by parks and scenic areas at 7.7%, storefront arcades near convenience stores at 7.7%, outdoor dining areas and events at 6.3%, and night markets and open-air markets at 4.9%.

The debate over whether Taiwan should adopt a full street-smoking ban or follow Japan’s model of outdoor smoking booths has continued for years without consensus. The administration noted that the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act authorizes local governments to designate outdoor smoke-free zones based on ventilation, location type, and pedestrian flow.

Globally, more cities are moving toward outdoor smoking restrictions. Melbourne announced in 2014 plans to become the world’s first smoke-free city.

South Australia expanded outdoor smoking bans last year. Osaka and Milan began enforcing citywide outdoor smoking bans this year.