Tobacco.org

Potential tax rise adds to Japan Tobacco woes 

The beleaguered JT (A089790.KQ) began the year inauspiciously with a tainted food scare, which battered sales in its food division.

Then came the launch of "Taspo" last month, an age verification card that aims to crack down on under-age smoking but is also expected to be a significant factor behind a forecast 5 per cent fall in JT's cigarette sales.

More recently, the company has been hit by perhaps its biggest threat - a potential tax increase that could more than triple prices, from about Y300 ($2.77) for a pack of its cigarettes currently to as much as Y1,000.

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