Most Japanese smokers say 1,000 yen a pack could be deterrent
A new survey has revealed has revealed that tripling the price of cigarettes could reduce the number of smokers in Japan:
KYOTO (Kyodo) About 90 percent of smokers — including heavy smokers — said they would consider quitting if the price of a pack of cigarettes reached as high as 1,000 yen, according to a survey released Monday.
On the other hand, the heavy smokers among the roughly 600 people surveyed would not be inspired to quit by warnings about health risks or fines for smoking in public places.
The survey was conducted by a team of researchers led by Takanori Ida, a professor of applied economics in the Kyoto University graduate school.
A pack of cigarettes generally costs about 300 yen, depending on the brand.
All you foreigners out there who love Japan’s low cigarette prices don’t need to worry too much: the article says nothing about any government plans to tax cigarettes up to 1000 yen a pack.
