China's Latest Attempt for Better Air

About one in 3 cigarettes worldwide are smoked in China. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in China, almost one third of the adult population smokes, with 53% of all men. The number of Chinese smoking grew by 100 million between 1980 and 2012. Whilst health may be the number one concern for the Chinese consumers, there remains a large portion of the population who choose to smoke.

With a pack of cigarettes costing less than ¥10 ($1.63) in China, significantly lower than the $6 American consumers pay, the price isn't exactly prohibitory. Although taxes are low relative to most developed economies, smoking tax still contributes $140.5 billion to Government coffers. Nevertheless, this tax is insignificant to the health and social benefits smoking causes in China.

This army of smokers exposes around 740 million people to the poisonous fumes as passive smokers. A study issued by the WHO this year shows that 3,000 people die in China every day because of tobacco use, which translates into one person dying approximately every 30 seconds. Even though China signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003, only few measures have been put in effect to date.

However, a new regulation draft released on 24 November draws public attention and legislation to the matter. China plans to ban smoking in public spaces like kindergartens, schools, hospitals, fitness centers and waiting areas of public transportation hubs. Based on the success in other countries, the draft also includes highlighting health risks on cigarette packs which could have a significant impact in decreasing the numbers as the majority of the 300 million smokers are unaware of the link between smoking and strokes, heart disease and lung illness. It is hoped this will help to discourage many more Chinese from picking up the habit, especially the younger generation. Among 14 year olds, 11% of boys and 3% of girls smoke.

To change consumer perception, China plans to forbid tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion. This includes prohibiting smoking scenes in films and TV shows. Whilst previous smoking legislation has been poorly implemented, the new smoking legislation aims to place top government officials and social organizations in charge of realizing the regulations in their areas. Public leaders should take the lead, which means that teachers and medical workers will be prevented from smoking in front of students and patients.

Every little bit helps, but given the heavy pollution in China – for the first 30 days of January 2013, the air in Beijing was 17% worse than an average US smoking lounge –there is still some work to be done before the average Chinese consumer will have clean lungs.  

Update: Pollution kills more people than tobacco in 12 of China's 31 cities surveyed by Greenpeace.