China Set to Fight Tobacco Consumption, Following Hong Kong Example
Published on April 19, 2010 8:47 AM
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China is home to 30 percent of smokers across the worlds, an as well is the largest cigarette maker and tobacco grower. Such enormous tobacco consumption resulted in severe health complications among Chinese people, so China government has recently initiated a campaign to reduce smoking in the country together with Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Finances, local and international charity organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Bloomberg Initiative.
After ratifying the landmark worldwide Convention on Tobacco Control, Chinese officials have been committed to its implementation and enforcement.
Nearly one-third of the world's tobacco users come from China, which is roughly the same as the entire population in the USA. Tobacco is so deeply assimilated in the culture, that it seems impossible for many people to give up. However, a latest research shows the tip to reducing the smokers rates in China can be found in its own backyard.
Hong Kong has successfully struggled with smoking during 20 years and managed to lower the number of smokers 23 percent in 1982 to 12 percent in 2008, becoming home to the lowest smoking rates in the world. The country, currently under Chinese administration, hiked cigarette taxes by up to 300 percents, prohibited smoking in public places and raised public awareness highlighting that tobacco use should not be considered as the essential part Chinese culture.
Jeffrey Koplan, scientist from Emory Global Health Institute admitted that the governments have to follow examples of other nations, which succeeded in fighting tobacco. He cited the U.S anti-tobacco campaign which was based on the experience of Australian and Canadian public health programs.
Chinese government have already implemented several measures to cut smoking rates, among which was prohibiting TV advertisements of tobacco, placing larger health warnings on cigarette packs and forbidding smoking at all venues during the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing.
However, they officials now have to go one step further and oppose the powerful tobacco monopoly owned by the state by making tobacco taxes much heftier. Although, China government imposed a tax last year, it was absorbed by tobacco industry, and smokers have not felt the increase.
A typical pack of 20 cigarettes sells in China for as low as $1.50, compared to $5 per pack in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong government implemented a dramatic 300 percent tax hike in 1983, what resulted in major reduction in the number of smokers. But smokers got used to the high prices, and while there was no tax increase during a decade, the tobacco consumption rose to 13 percent. In 2009, the territory imposed a 50% tax rise to stop the smoking rate growth.
The World Health Organization recently encouraged Hong Kong to become the first nation across the globe with a number of smokers below 10 percent. And while the administrative region may succeed in meeting that objective, the mainland China has to follow this example, in order to help its population get rid of the hazardous habit.
