Harm reduction and taxation can go together
Last weekend, I attended the 1st ASHRA Congress: Harm Reduction in the Asia-Pacific Rim, at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. It was organized by the Asia-Pacific Society of Harm Reduction and Addiction (ASHRA), composed mostly of physicians, psychologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists and other health professionals.
The 1st ASHRA Congress on Harm Reduction in the Asia-Pacific Rim took place in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, last weekend. The event was organized by the Asia-Pacific Society of Harm Reduction and Addiction (ASHRA), which consisted mainly of medical professionals. One of the panel discussions featured Hideki Makihara, a former Japanese politician with extensive government experience, Dr. Hiroyuki Terawaki, a Japanese professor, and Dr. Mohd Fadzi Mohamad Isa, a Malaysian addiction psychiatrist.
Makihara highlighted how autonomy, protection, and taxation coexisted in Japan's tobacco policy framework. Autonomy refers to personal freedom of choice regarding smoking, protection includes prohibiting minors from smoking and entering designated smoking areas, and taxation is a means of generating public funds. This approach has been implemented in Japan and many other countries, although some sectors continue to advocate for complete tobacco prohibition.
Philippine health activists and doctors should acknowledge the role of drinkers and smokers in funding the government through taxes, as these revenues contribute to important public services. Dr. Terawaki emphasized the importance of considering safety and liberty in public health policies, promoting individual liberty and personal choice in various activities without causing harm to others.
He advocated for harm reduction measures in activities like outdoor adventures or indoor activities involving alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs.
During the panel discussion, the speaker praised Hideki's focus on personal preference and individual choice, contrasting it with the restrictive lockdown policies of 2020-2021 in the Philippines, which led to a significant economic downturn. The speaker also noted that the shift to smuggled and illegal tobacco products due to higher taxes resulted in a decrease in government revenues, following the Laffer Curve phenomenon.
He suggested that policy-makers should find an optimal tax rate that balances maximum revenue generation and minimizes smuggling and evasion.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
