Japan: illustration of a country where the weight of industry undermines the protection of the population

Since the 1^er April 2020, smoking is banned in cafes and restaurants in the city of Tokyo. This provision thus comes into force in 2020, almost 20 years after Ireland. Such a time lag while scientific evidence on the risks associated with exposure to passive smoking has been irrefutably established for decades underlines the weight of the tobacco industry which interferes in public policies. Thus while Japan is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of income per capita, cigarettes remain very affordable. A pack of 20 cigarettes costs around 500 yen or 4.25 euros. As a corollary, this explains the country's major delay in the fight against smoking and the terrible health burden it represents with nearly 160,000 annual deaths attributable to tobacco. In addition to this delay in the implementation of essential protection measures, the smoking ban now in force only applies to the city of Tokyo. Furthermore, the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants does not apply to all tobacco products. Thus, smoking in these places is prohibited if it is a question of classic cigarettes but not if it is a question of the new heated tobacco cigarettes. It is true that Japan is the largest market in the world for these new tobacco products and that the industry is trying by all means to normalize their consumption by imposing them in all living spaces. As for electronic cigarettes, the question does not arise since they are prohibited throughout the country. The ban on smoking in reception areas and restaurants was part of the preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which have now been postponed. Given the widespread use of protective measures against passive smoking in most countries around the world, it was difficult for the country not to implement this measure. Added to this is the contradictory nature of smoking and sport. However, the battle was particularly hard and it took two years for this ban to come into force. It is true that the tobacco industry is in some way a state within a state. This multinational is still owned today to the tune of 30% by the Japanese State. This year's law is still not enough "We are not talking about smoking cessation," Shigefumi Matsuzawa, a politician and anti-smoking activist, told Reuters. We were forced to make many compromises to get these texts passed, which therefore contain gaps.. »©Tobacco Free Generation ©National Committee Against Smoking |