Tokyo: The smoking rate among men in
Japan has fallen to a record-low 36.8 per cent since the
launch of the survey in 1986, the Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Japan said today.
Among women, the smoking rate has stood at 9.1 per
cent, dropping below 10 per cent for the first time since
2001.
The rate among the men and women in total was 21.8 per
cent in the survey conducted a year ago, down 5.9 per cent in
five years, it said.
The percentage of smokers willing to quit the habit
was 28.5 per cent and 37.4 per cent for men and women
respectively.
The ministry attributed the fall in smoking rate to
rising health consciousness and introduction of "taspo" smart
cards in July last year.
These are only issued to people aged 20 or older and
enable holders to buy cigarettes at vending machines.
The ministry conducted questions on smoking as part of
its health survey in November last year on 3,800 households
across Japan. Some 8,000 people responded to the questions on
smoking.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 09, 2009, 23:24