- During your stay / Daily life
- Safety Information
- Drinking ＆ Smoking
- Japanese
- English
In Japan, the legal adult age is 20. Japanese law prohibits individuals under the age of 20 to drink alcohol or smoke.
Regardless of age, you must not force anyone to drink or smoke as it may cause serious health and social consequences.
Drinking
If you are under the age of 20, you are not allowed to drink alcohol in Japan. Offenders are subject to penalties under the law.
Even if you are of legal drinking age, you must refrain from driving a vehicle (including a bicycle) while under the influence of alcohol. Drunk driving is severely punished in Japan: with a potential fine of up to ¥1,000,000 or up to 5 years imprisonment. Note that passengers of a drunk driver are also subject to severe penalties: when you know the driver is under the influence of alcohol, you are responsible for not letting that person drive.
Since drinking alcohol can greatly effect decision-making ability and motor skill performance, drunk driving may cause disastrous consequences.
DO NOT DRIVE after drinking alcohol and DO NOT LET ANYONE DRIVE when you know he/she has been drinking.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited for those under the age of 20 in Japan.
On campus, smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas. Smoking is strictly prohibited inside any building. DO NOT smoke while walking on campus grounds.
