Science Council Calls For Doubling Of Tobacco Taxes
The Science Council of Japan has recommended that the government raise taxes on cigarettes:
The council submitted a suggestion to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Tuesday to introduce tightened regulations in seven areas, including a major increase in tobacco tax. The council had been considering measures since June 2006.
Under tobacco regulation criteria produced by scientists in Europe, Japan was found to score only 25.5 points in its smoking countermeasures, placing the nation last when compared to 30 other countries in Europe. Ireland had the strongest measures against smoking, scoring 71 points.
The science council’s proposal to the ministry includes banning cigarette vending machines, setting numerical targets to reduce smoking rates, and doubling tobacco tax, which currently stands at 189 yen per packet. Under the suggestions, yearly consumption — now standing at about 27 billion cigarettes — would fall by one quarter and at least 2 million people would stop smoking, calculations showed. Tax proceeds would increase by about 1.2 trillion yen from the current 2.3 trillion yen under the measures.
Council members have pointed out that smoking is responsible for ailments including cancer, and well as for fires and environmental pollution. The economic damage, say scientists, stands at about 7.3 trillion yen, outweighing revenue from tax on cigarettes.
A World Health Organization comparison on smoking in 2002 showed that the smoking rate among males in Japan was 47 percent, compared with only 27 percent in the United Kingdom and 24 percent in the United States.
Could Japan’s days of cheap cigarettes be coming to an end?
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It’s about time!! Welcome to the 21st century, Japan!!
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all I want to know is: do they really have packs of cigarettes that look like this?! Marlboro Japan could lure me back into that stinky, stinky world of cigarette smoking…
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Me too, Im drawn and was reading the full article because of that picture. anyway, I think I saw some packs of cigarette with this kinds of arts on it.
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Sadly, it is amazing how much a fag during a 12 work day (plus commute) can help you scrape through a horrible existence.
I expect more suicides as a result of this (welcome) measure.
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How does raising taxes and banning vending machines prevent people from smoking? It only encourages them not to. Anybody who wants to still can, but just at a higher price and a step in a convenience store.
If you commit suicide because taxes go up and you have to actually interact with humans in order to buy some cigarettes, then the problem is with yourself, not this measure.
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189 yen? And the spokesmodel is a hot anime idol? Japan here I come!
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Tax is 189 yen. A pack costs more.
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Raise the taxes! Ban the tobacco vending machines! I have no sympathy for smokers. >_<
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Hey, better marketing than Joe Camel! (Is that the Honda insignia on her costume?)
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Great, take away one of the few joys a salaryman has.
Seriously though, this is dumb.
If you’re going to levy taxes against tabacco because it’s unhealthy, or because it unfairly burdens non-users with extra health insurance costs, why not create a tax on fast food?
Or coffee?
Or any dozens of other unhealthy things that people choose to consume?
And the whole notion that Japan has to somehow catch up with other countries in smoking countermeasure points, or that this means Japan is behind the times, is absurd.
Countries and cultures are different. Just because Japan still trails behind Europe and the US in smoking countermeasures or in the gap between male and female salaries doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re living in the dark ages or are somehow less civilized.
Not every culture follows the same timeline or path as Europe or the US, you know.
Frankly I’m just sick to death of these kind of heavy-handed, paternalistic policies pushed down on us from governments. Recently in my hometown the city government decided on their own, without any kind of vote from the public, that they’re extending the citywide ban on smoking in restaurants to include bars.
Now, I’m not a smoker and I don’t like drinking in smoky bars, but there are enough non-smoking bars as it is that if someone doesn’t want to inhale secondhand smoke at a bar, they don’t have to.
So why clamp down on people that just want to enjoy a beer and a smoke at the same time?
While Japan has yet to adopt such strict policies, they’ve still enacted laws where people can’t smoke on the street, or must smoke in a segregated area outside the station. Not only that, but there is definitely no shortage of non-smoking places to eat, or at least places with non-smoking seating.
The point is that they’re rapidly reaching a point where a non-smoker doesn’t have to be subjected to someone else’s smoke if they don’t want to.
And outside of that, whose business is it if someone wants to light one up?
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WOW are you people mental!?! Just because you don’t agree with smoking doesn’t mean you can disregard those who do… this a rights issue; not the principal of enjoying smoking…! Can you not see the precedent that this poses? If you don’t like smoking, great. We live in the 21st Century? Yea, good point I think we’re all well educated on the subject enough to know that it is a health risk but thats a personal decision… NOT A MORAL ONE. In the US, smokers a flat discriminated against. Is this how we have progressed as a society, just to get rid of something you don’t personally agree with? Do you think raising taxes on tobacco discourages, or PUNISHES smokers?!?! What if suddenly there was awareness of how chewing gum produces litter, and as a result the price of gum was 2-3x what it actually costs? I guess you people like being influenced on what to do… especially when the government stands to profit! Nicotine is addicting? Boo-hoo it’s a stimulant, stimulants are addictive; you’re going to tax something to ‘discourage people’ yet the nature of the substance is addictive…? Sounds like a sure way to turn a profit to me! No sympathy for smokers? Well I’m glad to see that your a pretty rational bunch… Yea sure, death to non believers.You think that implementing something such as this is a step forward?!?! Glad to see that we can pay homage to the Kingdom of England by taxing those who choose to exercise their right of pursuit of happiness.
Right, but same goes for those commercials telling you to quit, and those warning labels on all risky items: They only act as a deterrent that will affect some. Besides, it’s being called for by the department of health. Of course they’re going to call on ways to deter smoking because it truly is bad for smoker’s health (and those around them). However, it’s true that smokers have a right to smoke (especially because it’s hard to QUIT smoking), just as long as they respect those who do not (aka not smoking in front of a building entrance.
Just my cent or three.
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Triple the Taxes on cigarettes. When people stop smoking that is when good health habits can be passed down to children.
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First things first, I respect the rights of smokers to smoke if their actions do not affect of offend someone else. This is just common courtesy and on that note I completely agree that the taxes should go up, but doubt that an extra buck eighty is really going to deter anyone with a smoking habit. I also agree that there should not be any cigarette vending machines available to anyone with a couple bucks in their pockets, including the pockets of children, JT’s next generation of smokers, a very important future market. The recommendations outlined above are steps in the right direction, but baby steps in my opinion. Have the government get rid of their shares in tobacco and then you’ll see some positive changes.
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There are far more nanny state fans around than I would expect. So much for personal responsibility.
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