Japan's antismoking plan with gaping loophole sparks outcry

Japan's recently unveiled antismoking plan has sparked an outcry from lung cancer patients and other activists as it has a gaping loophole -- basically allowing customers at restaurants and bars to carry on lighting up.The plan released last Tuesday by the health ministry backpedaled from its initial goal of introducing a total indoor smoking ban to prevent passive smoking in public spaces ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games due to strong opposition by the tobacco and restaurant industries.Japan is among the lowest-ranked countries in terms of tobacco control, with no smoke…READ FULL ARTICLE