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From here, we will introduce the cost performance of heated cigarettes and vapes in detail, comparing their running costs.

Cost of heated cigarettes

Mainstream products of heated cigarettes sell starter kits including the main body at prices ranging from 3,000 to 11,000 yen. In addition, special sticks for heated cigarettes are sold at a price range similar to that of paper cigarettes, with a price of about 500 yen per box as of 2020. In other words, assuming a case where one pack per day is consumed, the running cost would be about 15,000 yen per month or 180,000 yen per year.

Cost of vape

Vape starter kits are available for as low as 1,000 yen, and even the most expensive ones can be purchased for about 10,000 yen. As for liquid, products priced at around 1,000 yen for 15 ml are common. Depending on the device used and the frequency of vaping, it is said that 15 ml is usually consumed in a week, so the running cost per month is approximately 4,200 yen, or about 50,000 yen per year.

In addition, a vape requires replacing the coils about once or twice a month. The price of coils varies depending on the type, but basically each coil costs between 200 and 700 yen. In a case where coils cost 500 yen each and are replaced twice a month, the cost would be 1,000 yen per month, or 12,000 yen per year. The total annual running cost of a vape, including liquid and coils, is about 62,000 yen, which is by far the best value compared to heated cigarettes, which cost about 180,000 yen.

How is it different between Japan and other countries on Regulations on E-cigarettes

Regulations governing the use of electronic cigarettes differ between Japan and other countries. In this paragraph, we will introduce the regulatory situation in Japan and overseas with reference to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Regulations in Japan

In Japan, the use of heated cigarettes is regulated mainly in restaurants where an unspecified number of people are vulnerable to passive smoking. Under the proposed amendment to the Health Promotion Law of Japan, the use of heated cigarettes is permitted while eating or drinking, as long as smoking areas are set up to separate smoking and eating areas that meet certain standards, and this is also the case in Tokyo. The draft amendment to the Health Promotion Law and the passive smoking prevention ordinances of each municipality include various measures to prevent the damage caused by passive smoking to the Japanese people.

In these ordinances, the regulation of heated cigarettes is considered a duty of effort, not subject to administrative punishment or penalties, because the extent of the damage caused by heated cigarettes to health is not yet clearly understood. In addition, the draft ordinance framework released by Toyohashi City in Aichi Prefecture in December 2018 makes it an effort obligation to treat heated cigarettes in the same way as paper cigarettes. However, according to the official response obtained by Ecigator Vape Factory from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government department in charge, vapes are not included in the scope of Tokyo's passive smoking prevention ordinance.

Regulations overseas

In the U.S., heated cigarettes have not yet been approved for sale in the first place; in January 2018, an advisory committee of the "U.S. Food and Drug Administration" determined that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the health risks of heated cigarettes are smaller than those of paper cigarettes. It then advised the government that it should prohibit the promotion of heated cigarettes with the content that they are less harmful than paper cigarettes. In Thailand, the possession or use of heated cigarettes is prohibited by law, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison or a 500,000 baht fine for violations.

Similar regulations are in place in Singapore, where violators face up to six months in prison or pay a fine of S$163,000. In Taiwan, a popular tourist destination, vapes, let alone heated cigarettes, are not allowed in the country. Smoking is prohibited in all public places and hotel rooms, and e-cigarettes are forbidden even in smoking areas. Some countries, such as Taiwan, have strict regulations regarding the importation of e-cigarettes, so it is advisable to check well in advance whether or not you are allowed to bring them into the country when traveling abroad.

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