The World Health Organization in early February released a report stating that the global tobacco epidemic is one of the greatest public health threats of modern times. It said that in the 20th century the tobacco epidemic killed 100 million people worldwide.
WHO also predicted that, unless governments take urgent action, tobacco could kill more than 1 billion people by the end of this century. In Japan, smokers will soon need age-verification electronic ID cards to buy tobacco from vending machines. Still, Japan is the slowest in pushing antismoking measures among developed countries.
WHO Director General Ms. Margaret Chan said: "The cure for this devastating epidemic depends not on medicine or vaccines but on the concerted actions of government and civil society." The government should take the report and her statement seriously and embark on new effective measures to curb smoking and protect nonsmokers.