Philip Morris woos puff-happy Japan for post-smoking era

Goal is: smoke free. They either or high or actually really think the oublic buy this nonsense. We are trying to create a non-smoking Japan and these companies come up with these nonsense to try to attract more customers of all ages. How is nicotine ever healthy for a person?

This it's straight of genius. Smokers get their fix and non smokers don't get any of that nasty smell on their clothes.

I'd rather be out at an izakaya or bar with only iQOS and vape users, and no cigarettes...

... but ultimately the goal should still be a smoking ban in public places including restaurants and bars.

These things are awful. Smell like stale farts.

Just another way to make the administering of an addictive drug more "socially acceptable", ensuring the manufacturers of such drugs keep their businesses alive - while their customers are dying.

I suppose it's better than syringes - but only just.

the company has opened nine iQOS stores offering free WiFi and drinks

These are very unsavoury business practices. Next they will be paying people cash, giving discounts to students and handing out free samples to get them addicted.

I love my IQOS, my pipe, my beer and my sake !!..

statistics show that your chances of dieing prematurely compared to non smokers is high, if your a lifetime smoker its around 14yrs earlier.

Is there really no smell with them? I still see the cloud of vapor going off but haven't been in an all-iQOS environment to see if it actually does eliminate the smell that is common with cigarettes.

@expat

Simple. because smokers due to taxes/duty and death make a net contribution to your health care.

Post smoking Japan? Err how about all the Izakaya and other restaurants that allows for heavy smoking..

Simple. because smokers due to taxes/duty and death make a net contribution to your health care.

does that factor in the 15000 lives lost to passive smoking yearly and the emotional and financial toll on their families, years if not decades of lost income to those family member that have died prematurely through no fault of their own!? if it was that simple then we should have an annual smokers kull, volunteers first then a lottery if nobody volunteers, after all if governments are fine with collecting extra taxes from smokers even though they know it is killing them prematurely, then why dont we speed up the process with an annual kull. See unfortunately where human and as humans we have morality, let smokers continue to kill themselves prematurely even though we save on the health system or help them quit to lead longer healthier productive lives, without killing anybody else in the process.

Why are smokers not charged more for national health insurance than non-smokers?

I can't stand second-hand smoke, and believe Japan is way behind the times in terms of banning smoking in public places. But, the problem is with asking smokers to pay more for health insurance opens a dangerous can of worms: Where would one draw the line? How about also charging more to those who drink too much? And, should overweight people pay more? Or perhaps those who are not overweight but are at higher risk due to an unhealthy diet or lack of regular exercise? Maybe those like me who eat mainly a western diet should pay more too?

Why are smokers not charged more for national health insurance than non-smokers?

Two reasons...

If it's true that they die younger, they probably put less burden on the health services.

The tax on the cigarettes probably more than covers the costs.

On purely cost terms, perhaps they should be charged less.

albaleo - that's an urban myth that smokers die younger, hence are a less burden on society.

Sure some investigations have shown evidence trying to prove that, but the overwhelming evidence strongly suggests otherwise.