「路上飲み」マナーの悪化改善なるか？ 気ままなリライト161
Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward has been wrestling with the challenge of balancing individual freedom, such as public drinking, with the need to maintain public order and community well-being. Famous for its vibrant nightlife and heavy tourist traffic, Shibuya has become a focal point for alcohol-related issues in public spaces. Starting in October, local policymakers will implement a year-round nighttime ban on public drinking in designated areas of Shibuya. This trial measure aims to assess how the public responds to a soft enforcement approach, where no formal penalties will be imposed. The mere announcement of a new public policy is expected to deter problematic behaviors, such as littering, noise disturbances, and more serious public safety concerns.
The year-round nighttime ban on public drinking builds on the ward’s policy first introduced in 2019, which initially restricted public drinking only during specific events like Halloween and the year-end holidays. The upcoming ban will be enforced daily from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. in public open spaces, including parks and streets within the designated area. This area spans roughly one square kilometer and includes the busy streets of Dogenzaka and Bunkamura, which are key hubs of pedestrian activity around Shibuya Station. The effectiveness of this policy will test whether relying on social conformity and voluntary compliance is enough to create a cleaner and safer environment without the need for formal penalties.
Behind the introduction of the year-around public drinking ban in Shibuya is the challenge the ward has been faced with. Balancing the need for public order and street cleanliness with maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for international visitors has become increasingly difficult in Shibuya. While local businesses are benefiting from the influx of people with various nationalities enjoying the nightlife, the surge in street drinking among international visitors has negatively affected community well-being. Japan’s generally permissive attitude towards alcohol in public spaces has led many international visitors to view drinking in parks or on the streets as a natural part of socializing and experiencing the city’s nightlife. This lenient approach to public drinking is reinforcing Shibuya’s image as a street drinkers’ paradise, where litter is accumulating and irresponsible behavior that disregards public etiquette is being on the rise.
Shibuya’s global appeal has been thriving on the contrast between a more global approach to public drinking and a traditional Japanese-style approach. In many Western countries, where public drinking is often viewed as a source of social unrest, stricter alcohol regulations in public spaces are believed to improve the overall quality of public life. By contrast, Japan has traditionally viewed public drinking as a way to enjoy communal experiences rather than a problem. As a result, there has been no widespread legal framework criminalizing public drinking, although temporary restrictions are imposed in certain areas or during crowded events. Enforcement around public drinking has generally been lenient, with authorities focusing on maintaining order and preventing disturbances rather than penalizing drinking itself. Intervention by police officers or community patrollers usually occurs only when drinking results in disruptive behavior.
The year-round nighttime ban on public drinking is a clear message sent by the ward, reflecting the tension between adapting to the modern realities of urban living and international influence and striving to preserve cultural traditions. Japan's historically relaxed stance toward public drinking, free from social stigma, has attracted many international visitors to tourist-heavy districts like Shibuya and Shinjuku. The growing influx of tourists, coupled with the difficulties of managing large crowds, has led to increased litter, noise, and occasional public disturbances, challenging the traditional Japanese approach to public drinking. Policymakers in Shibuya Ward must navigate the path where the benefits of stricter regulations outweigh the potential erosion of cultural practices if the new ban fail to achieve its intended outcomes.
The ward has been focusing on educating international drinkers in public spaces about responsible behavior that aligns with Japanese cultural norms through regular patrols. A team of up to 13 members, including foreign-born security personnel, is conducting daily patrols, making announcements in English and Spanish for those unfamiliar with local customs. Those efforts emphasize the importance of maintaining cleanliness, keeping noise levels down, and being mindful of others in public spaces, helping visitors adjust their behavior to be respectful and culturally appropriate. This proactive approach is designed not only to remind them of the unique safety and freedom they enjoy in public drinking without fear of crime but also to encourage visitors to protect those freedoms through responsible actions. By fostering a sense of shared responsibility and mutual respect between locals and visitors, the ward hopes to promote voluntary compliance with local expectations, reducing the need for stricter regulations.
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