Shibuya Ward in Tokyo is gearing up to expand its crackdown on nighttime street drinking, aiming to enforce a year-round ban in additional areas. This decision comes in response to a noticeable worsening in drinking etiquette among tourists, particularly around Shibuya Station and its adjacent parks, where street drinking has been restricted only during specific events such as Halloween and New Year's Eve. The proposed changes to the ordinance are expected to be presented to the ward assembly in June, with plans to implement them by October 1st. It's quite uncommon for urban areas to impose such comprehensive restrictions on street drinking throughout the year.
Under the proposed amendment, the current ban period, limited to late October and New Year's, will be extended to cover the entire year, although penalties for violators will not be enforced. The expanded enforcement areas will encompass not only the northern side of Shibuya Station, home to the bustling Center Gai, but also the vicinity around the ward office, Miyashita Park, and the nightlife hub of Maruyamacho. Additionally, authorities are considering setting the prohibited hours from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
This move follows the ward's initial introduction of restricted ordinances in June 2019, prompted by numerous incidents of disorderly conduct during the 2018 Halloween celebrations. During these restricted periods, security guards from contracted firms have been conducting regular patrols in the area.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in outdoor drinking, not only among the youth but also notably among foreign tourists who have been influenced by social media promotions. This trend has resulted in various issues, including pedestrian congestion, littering, and noise disturbances.
In response, the ward initiated nightly patrols by security guards in September last year, spanning nine hours each night. Despite these efforts, the ward's surveys indicate a rise in the average number of people warned for street drinking in Shibuya Station's Center Gai area, from 107.5 people in March to 158.4 people in April, with over 70% being foreigners. To address this, the ward plans to extend patrols to eleven hours every night starting from October this year, and has also ensured the availability of security guards fluent in English and Spanish.
A ward official expressed optimism, stating, "We anticipate that the ordinance amendment will have a positive impact on issues such as littering and noise disturbances. As awareness of the ordinance grows, we hope to see a decrease in incidents of street drinking."
While year-round regulations on street drinking exist in places like Chatan Town in Okinawa and Hakuba Village in Nagano, Shibuya Ward's initiative is believed to be the first of its kind in an urban area.
Commenting on the situation, Professor Shinji Shimizu, Emeritus Professor of Sociopathology at Nara Women's University, remarked, "Street drinking disturbances, as seen in Shibuya, deviate from societal norms, necessitating this ordinance amendment. It's crucial to understand that failing to adhere to etiquette may lead to limitations on enjoying festivities and communal spaces."