Still not as much as the UK…the cost of cigarettes.

I have always been surprised at the cost of a packet of 20 here in the UK. I believe it stands at

Most smokers say 1,000 yen a pack could be deterrent – Japan Times

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

KYOTO (Kyodo) About 90 percent of smokers — including heavy smokers — said
they would consider quitting if the price of a pack of cigarettes reached
as high as 1,000 yen [US$8.25], according to a survey released Monday.

On the other hand, the heavy smokers among the roughly 600 people surveyed
would not be inspired to quit by warnings about health risks or fines for
smoking in public places.

The survey was conducted by a team of researchers led by Takanori Ida, a
professor of applied economics in the Kyoto University graduate school.

A pack of cigarettes generally costs about 300 yen, depending on the
brand.

“Raising cigarette prices by not small but large margins would be
effective to inspire people to quit smoking,” Ida said.

He said the more smokers are dependent on nicotine, the higher the
priority they tend to put on price.

The survey results indicate that raising the alarm about the health risk
is somewhat effective in getting those who are not heavy smokers to
consider quitting.

But heavy smokers were unmoved by health risks or fines.

And yet half of them said they would quit if the price of a pack of
cigarettes were more than 700 yen and 90 percent said they would do so if
it was 1,000 yen.

Higher prices were also found to inspire lighter smokers to quit.

Source: Japan Times’

A copy of a price comparison from the Tobacco Manufacturers Association shows just how much a UK packet of 20 costs. At £5.23 its the highest in Europe and still not deterrent. You could put £5.23 towards your weekly fruit shopping. No?