BT's previous article "Puff on This" talked about the challenges Japn faced as a smoker's paradise. Now it is seems the shift in the GOJ's attitude may truly have an impact on smokers in Japan.[Via the Japan Times] It looks like smokers in Japan may be puffing a little less due to the 25% hike on the cost of cigarettes. Maybe this and the smoking ban in certain establishments will bring a breath of fresh air!

The price of cigarettes jumped Friday by more than ¥100 per pack as a new tobacco tax kicked in, raising industry fears that sales will drop further as consumers become more health conscious. Japan Tobacco Inc., which holds around 65 percent of the market, predicts that the unprecedented hike will contribute to a 25 percent year-on-year reduction in domestic tobacco sales for the next 12 months.Tobacco consumption is also expected to decline as a result of smokers becoming increasingly concerned about the health effects. A recent JT survey found that the ratio of smokers had fallen to 23.9 percent in fiscal 2010 from 32.9 percent in fiscal 2000.The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in February urged hotels, restaurants and other public facilities to impose an outright ban on smoking to cut down on secondhand smoke.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that in 2005 Japan had roughly 30.2 million smokers—around 25% of the population (see JIN: http://www.japaninc.com/jin422.Click here for the rest of the story.[ad]