Nicotine Gum

A note to all of you smokers in Japan: it might be time to think about investing in a good nicotine gum program.


My kanji isn't all that great (i.e. I can't really read in Japan), but a friend pointed out some new posters hanging at the JR Sannomiya station this week, prohibiting smoking and walking in the area (punishable by fine if you are caught).


Ok, the walking and smoking I understand. Alot of people smoke in Japan, and while smokers are generally good at staying in restricted areas, a lot still smoke in crowded areas... even though it is considered really rude (and can be). This is, however, just the beginning of a huge wave of changes that have started to affect the nicotine-addicted community of Japan.


A few months ago, Japanese cigarette machines converted to a new system called TASPO, where smokers are required to send in a registration form for a special ID card that they must scan in order to use the tabacco vending machines. Along with Taspo, many convenience stores also stopped selling cigarettes at all (which is surprising because these shops, or konbinis, have become a fixation and major element of Japanese popular culture - so I am sure they are losing a lot of money by doing this).


Here's the kicker with all of these changes, though; the posters we saw in Kobe also confirmed that cigarettes prices in Japan, which are actually lower than in most western countries, will soon rise almost 300% (or more, depending on the brand). Yes, they will be comparable to Norway prices (sorry, easy comparison) at about ￥1,000 a pack ($10). I just checked the machine down the block, and a pack of Marlboro is currently ￥300.

Taxes are definitely a good way to curb underage smoking and I support the TASPO efforts, but I am curious how soon the price increase will take place and to see if it really had a serious effect, other than making a serious dent in a lot of peoples' wallets for a while. Let's just hope they don't try to hit up the caffeine-addicted community soon!