With the Japanese government owning a hefty stake in Japan Tobacco, manners more than anything are seen as most important. Yet despite this decidedly unorthodox approach, the number of smokers is steadily declining, and with the Japanese population going in the same direction, domestic sales look set to deteriorate still further.
But there again, if kids can be encouraged to acquire a taste (of sorts) for tobacco at an early age, then a turnaround in the trend may just be possible.
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We had this in the states back when I was a kid. There would be “sugar cigarettes” in the candy aisle or next to the cash register lol, I think I tried it once. Hard to believe something like that can exist, but it sadly does.
There were bubblegum cigarettes too that would emit a puff of powder when you blew into them.
I remember both of those products. I also remember that one of them had a package similar to Lucky Strikes. You’re probably right about the whole concept of trying to “rope” in kids at a young age. It never did get me to smoke though. I was turned off of the idea of smoking at a young age. My father forced me to try one of his cigarettes until I was sick. It’s a shame that is concidered abuse in this age. It was one hell of a deterent to not smoke.
i used to eat those things when i was a little tyke. my friends would go in and buy some and “smoke them” looking all cool, and when it was my turn to take one- i just shoved the whole thing in my mouth every time and chewed the damn thing! my friends always just shook their heads… maybe thats why i dont smoke lol!
@o@
Heh, considering how readily available real cigarettes are from the thousands of cigarette vending machines in Japan, I very much doubt these chocolate cigs have any real impact by comparison.
considering how available it is i dont doubt it!