Japan
A group of Japanese lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party plans to submit a joint proposal with Komeito, its coalition partner, to raise the levy, which now stands at 64.4% per pack. According to informed sources, the move is aimed at reducing smoking ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2010, the International Olympic Committee and the World Health Organization agreed that the next olympics should be tobacco-free. The IOC urges host cities to strengthen regulations against smoking.
The politicians hope the proposal will be reflected in the fiscal 2016 tax reforms the ruling camp is set to release as early as Dec. 10. The LDP has said it will consider a tobacco tax hike over the long term.
After a similar hike in October 2010, cigarette sales in Japan fell by 12.7 billion pieces in fiscal 2011, ending in March. This led LDP and Komeito to seek another hike, supposedly to promote public health and curb secondhand smoking risks.