Japan has taken a tough stance on smoking, imposing a record 40 percent tax hike on cigarettes.
The tax raise will become effective Oct. 8 and will bring prices closer to the U.S. level. The most popular brand of cigarettes in Japan, Mild Seven, will cost 410 yen (US$4.93), reports the Taiwan News.
“The aim is to encourage smokers to quit. We hope the price increase will discourage smokers from buying cigarettes and eventually help them quit smoking,” said health ministry official Kosuke Kato, reports Taiwan News.
The price hike is expected to raise 63.1 billion yen (US$756 million) in taxes over the first year.
The current smoking rates in Japan are 36.6 percent for men and 12.1 percent for women. Both have seen a steady decline over the past decade.
The tax raise will become effective Oct. 8 and will bring prices closer to the U.S. level. The most popular brand of cigarettes in Japan, Mild Seven, will cost 410 yen (US$4.93), reports the Taiwan News.
“The aim is to encourage smokers to quit. We hope the price increase will discourage smokers from buying cigarettes and eventually help them quit smoking,” said health ministry official Kosuke Kato, reports Taiwan News.
The price hike is expected to raise 63.1 billion yen (US$756 million) in taxes over the first year.
The current smoking rates in Japan are 36.6 percent for men and 12.1 percent for women. Both have seen a steady decline over the past decade.
