This Halloween, Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo is implementing a new ban on street drinking in Kabukicho and surrounding areas from 5 p.m. on October 31 to 5 a.m. the next day.
The Tokyo Shinjuku Ward assembly enacted a regulation that Shinjuku Halloween street drinking ban in some areas for Halloween during nighttime. Under this rule, no drinking will be allowed within the area of Shinjuku 3-chome and Kabukicho 1-chome on October 31 and November 1.
There are no penalties to be imposed. Local stores, however, are asked not to sell alcohol during the banned period. This decision comes after more problems from young people from nearby Shibuya, which is stricter about rules on drinking in public.
Following last year’s chaotic celebrations, the ward aims to maintain order and cleanliness by closing event venues and patrolling the area to ensure compliance.
Shibuya also initiated a rule that banned street drinking near Shibuya Station for the entire year, which started on October 1, with no penalty enforcement on that particular rule as well. Last Halloween, many chose to assemble in Shinjuku rather than Shibuya to celebrate the night, littering the ground with tons of trash and raising a ruckus.
Local business groups petitioned for a public drinking ban and restraint on rowdy behavior. Shinjuku Mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi said he doesn’t want accidents and hordes. Shibuya wants to permanently expand its ban on public drinking zones.
Discover how this new ordinance aims to enhance the Halloween experience while reducing disturbances!
Both districts argue that such curbs are necessary because crowds threaten to be a safety hazard and also overwhelm businesses. Shibuya is the only district in Tokyo that has a liquor ban, and this only applies to Halloween and New Year’s Eve. The ward found that problems associated with drinking were an all-year-round affair and not something that was specific to holidays.
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