Japan's smoking epidemic
CMAJ 1997;156:1122
I read with interest the editorial "Taxes and the tobacco wars" (CMAJ 1997;156:205-6 [full text / résumé]), by Dr. Lawrence W. Green. A tobacco tax is a well-known means of preventing smoking and decreasing cigarette use among teenagers. In Japan, cigarettes are cheaper than in Canada. A package of Mild Sevens, the best-selling brand, costs 220 yen, or about Can$2.40.
The increase in the number of underage smokers and young women smoking is one of Japan's most important problems.[1] According to the Japan Tobacco Association, 334.7 billion cigarettes were sold in 1995.[2] The prevalence of smoking in 1995 was 58.8% among men and 15.2% among women -- in other words, about 27.3 million men and 7.5 million women smoke.[3] Because of the growing popularity of foreign cigarettes, particularly US brands, thanks to advertising and vending machines, the share of the cigarette market held by Japan Tobacco Inc. has dropped from 98.5% in 1982 to 78.8% in 1995.
On Apr. 1, 1997, the consumption tax applied to cigarettes will be raised from 3% to 5%. The newspapers say that Japan Tobacco Inc. will mark up 23 of its 118 cigarette brands by 10 yen per pack, upping the price of a pack of Mild Sevens to 230 yen.
If it wants to indicate that it takes this threat to people's health seriously, the Japanese government should increase taxation by 10 yen per cigarette, not per package.
Hiroshi Kawane, MD
Kawasaki Medical School
Kurashiki City
Okayama, Japan
References
- Kawane H. The influence of the U.S. tobacco industry in foreign markets [letter]. N Engl J Med 1991;325:815.
- Kawane H. Smoking cessation: physician responsibility and government's role [letter]. Respir Med 1996;90:440.
- Kawane H. Tobacco advertising: cigarette advertisements are still allowed on television in Japan [letter]. BMJ 1996;312:705.
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