Banning street smoking
A junior high school student suffering from asthma started a signature collection drive in Shizuoka prefecture, hoping to have the local assembly pass a street smoking bill, according to The Mainichi:
After the municipal assembly accepted the student's request in December 2005, the municipal government proposed the bill to the assembly.
"I want to thank the many people who obliged with my request," the student said. "I plan to watch how this ordinance will help decrease passive smoking."
Well done!!
Smoking on the street has been banned in many parts of central Tokyo since 2002. And a recent tax increase from July 1 should also have the effect that some people decide to quit. From July 1, smokers in Japan pay 10 to 30 yen more for a pack of 20 cigarettes, with the price of Mild Seven, the most popular brand in the country, rising to 300 yen from the current 270 yen. Still, that is about 1/3 of what a smoker in Europe would pay for his or her "cancer sticks". No wonder I have to pay a lot for the national health care insurance here in Japan.
After the municipal assembly accepted the student's request in December 2005, the municipal government proposed the bill to the assembly.
"I want to thank the many people who obliged with my request," the student said. "I plan to watch how this ordinance will help decrease passive smoking."
Well done!!
Smoking on the street has been banned in many parts of central Tokyo since 2002. And a recent tax increase from July 1 should also have the effect that some people decide to quit. From July 1, smokers in Japan pay 10 to 30 yen more for a pack of 20 cigarettes, with the price of Mild Seven, the most popular brand in the country, rising to 300 yen from the current 270 yen. Still, that is about 1/3 of what a smoker in Europe would pay for his or her "cancer sticks". No wonder I have to pay a lot for the national health care insurance here in Japan.
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