THE president of The Vapers Philippines has lauded the decline in Japan’s smoking rate, which, in 2005, saw a “remarkable” 49-percent drop of men, and 14 percent of women smokers.
Tom Pinlac, president of the vapers’ group, said that in 10 years, the Japan’s smoking rate has decreased to 18.2 percent of the total population.
“The 2018 State of Smoking Survey shows that the decline in Japan’s smoking rate has accelerated in recent years, with the entry of heated tobacco products in the market, the same effect is also evident in other countries where the decline of smoking rates are accompanied by the entry of heated tobacco and vape products,” Joey Dulay, president of the Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association for his part, said.
Also known as heat-not-burn products, heated tobacco products only heat tobacco, which generates a flavorful nicotine-containing vapor. Because the tobacco is not burned, the levels of harmful chemicals produced by heat-not-burn products are significantly lower compared to combustible cigarette smoke.
“The fastest decline in the use of almost any consumer product is under way in Japan—an 18-percent to 20-percent drop in combustible cigarette use over the last 18 months. And the three major cigarette manufacturers are competing to introduce reduced-risk products in the market to end combustible cigarette use in Japan,” said Dr. Derek Yach, president of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, which commissioned the 2018 State of Smoking Survey.
According to the survey, the rising popularity of heated tobacco products in Japan is partially due to growing awareness about the health risks associated with smoking, as well as the high cost of traditional tobacco products and Japanese smokers’ desire for cleanliness and to avoid smelling like cigarette smoke.
The survey involved more than 17,000 adult smokers, ex-smokers, and nonsmokers from 13 countries. It aimed to understand smokers’ experiences and challenges, probe awareness of smoking and health impacts and assess perceptions of risk and influence on choices. Countries covered by the survey were Brazil, France, Greece, Israel, India, Japan, Lebanon, Malawi, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“We need to give a stronger voice to people who are smoking, vaping and trying to either quit or reduce their risk, so that they can drive some of the policies and decisions on tobacco control,” Yach said.
“The data generated by the State of Smoking Survey can help policymakers in different countries push for better science and advocacy on tobacco control and ultimately for better regulation.”
Yach acknowledged the role of technology in enhancing “our understanding and ability to separate nicotine which causes addiction to smoking, from everything else in combustible cigarettes that kills, and to do this in a wide variety of products than we ever thought possible.”
Japan is a Party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a treaty created by the World Health Organization in 2004. According to the State of Smoking Survey, employers, restaurant owners, and public facilities throughout Japan have increasingly banned cigarettes since the passage of a bill discouraging passive smoke.
Smoking is also banned in many outdoor locations in the country. In 2003 the Japanese government required cigarette packaging to display warnings that use 30 percent or more space of their main surface. Combustible cigarettes are heavily taxed. The tax rate on conventional cigarettes is more than three times higher than the tax rate for smokeless tobacco. Heat-not-burn products are currently taxed less than cigarettes.
The selection of Tokyo as the host city of the 2020 Summer Olympics has triggered a robust national dialogue on smoking, the State of Smoking Survey noted. The rise of reduced-risk products, including heated tobacco and the declining smoking rate are also receiving media coverage. Although smoking is allowed indoors and many restaurants have smoking rooms or smoking sections, there is a push to ban indoor smoking in Tokyo ahead of the Olympics.
Other key facts and figures about smoking in Japan uncovered by the 2018 State of Smoking Survey include:
- Approximately 19 million Japanese 20 years and older currently smoke.
- Japanese men historically had high smoking rates. In 1965 the smoking rate for men in Japan was more than 80 percent. In 2000 the male smoking rate was around 50 percent. It is currently 30.1 percent.
- The female smoking rate in Japan has decreased from 15 percent in 1965 to 7.9 percent today.
- 42 percent of Japan’s smoking population is 60 years and older.