Anti-smoking Japan to teach Korea

[Taro Toporific]

[Caustic Saint]

I wonder how much Korea is really trying to get its citizens to cut back. Smoking is practically a religion there, and it seems like more than half of all adult males smoke (based on personal observation, not any serious data).

Increasing the price of cigs is a good start, since they cost next-to-nothing, relative to the US. They're about $1.60 a pack for the good ones (Dunhill, for example), and less than a buck for some of the local brands.

Smoking is also accepted almost everywhere, by men that is. Women are prohibited by law from smoking in public unless they're under some sort of cover (awniing, building entranceway or umbrella).

I'd be happy to see the rate there decline, if for no other reason than to be able to hang out in a bar and not have to wash everything I've been wearing as soon as I got home in order to keep my apartment from reeking. (Provided I were to go back to Korea, of course.)

[Taro Toporific]

... Korea...
Women are prohibited by law from smoking in public unless they're under some sort of cover (awniing, building entranceway or umbrella).

Ladies smoking under the covers?! YOW!

(What is the "rationale" for smoking under an umbrella???!!!)

[Caustic Saint]

Ladies smoking under the covers?! YOW!

(What is the "rationale" for smoking under an umbrella???!!!)

Smoking under an umbrella satisfies the legal requirement for smoking under some kind of overhead covering.

Oh, and don't go falling in love. lol Unless they've lived (and hopefully grown up abroad) they're none too hot under the covers.

[Andocrates]

cigarettes and sake are all that is keeping this country together.

[blackcat]

blind leading the blind.

[DJEB]

cigarettes and sake are all that is keeping this country together.

Don't forget the coffee. That is one of the first things I noticed when I got here: plenty of people heavily addicted to every legal drug available.