Japan today imposed a record 40-per-cent tax hike on cigarettes in a bid to curb the nation's smoking rate.
Per cigarette, the tax rose to JPY 12.244 (EUR 0.11) from JPY 8.744. The hike will raise the price of Japan's most popular brand, Mild Seven, by one third to JPY 410 (EUR 3.57) a pack, bringing it closer to prices in the major industrialised countries.
In the weeks leading up to the tax increase, smokers across the country stocked up on cigarettes.
Japan Tobacco expects the number of cigarettes smoked to drop by a quarter because of the hike. (pi)
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