Tobacco use rising unabated in China

A recent study has suggested that the number of deaths due to tobacco use reached 1.2 million in China in 2005 and the number has been increasing rapidly since 2000.

The report titled ‘Tobacco Control and China’s Future’ was authored jointly by Yang Gonghuan and Hu Angang, director of Tsinghua University’s Research Centre for Contemporary China.

Gonghuan is the vice director of China centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Analysis of the report
The study says that the tobacco industry has been resorting to several strategies to counter tobacco control activities.

The industry has been claiming that smoking is a right of a person but it is not informing about health hazards related with smoking.

The tobacco industry has been misleading the public by claiming that low tar products are less harmful.

The report also suggests that tobacco control responsibilities should not be handed over to those government agencies managing the tobacco industry.

The companies have also been successful in circumventing the bans on sponsorships and advertising.

Deep rooted cultural practices like gift giving of cigarette boxes also need to be countered with public awareness campaigns.

Effects of smoking on Chinese society
The report estimates that there are nearly 300 million smokers in China and 700 million more are exposed to second hand smoking at public places.

All this has resulted in an increase in number of deaths. Current estimates suggest 1.2 million deaths in 2005.

The number of these deaths can reach 3 million within the next 20 years if stringent measures against smoking are not introduced immediately.

Since Chinese citizens are not much aware of the health hazards associated with smoking, public should be educated on the issue.

Experts opinion
Ma Huaide of the China University of Law and Political Science believes that it is the obligation of the government to introduce and enforce laws aimed at curtailing tobacco consumption in China.

Experts have been demanding more effective tobacco control measures which should include a complete ban on promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, ban on smoking in public places and higher taxes to make cigarettes less attractive especially for the younger generation.

Imposing heavier taxes is the most practical remedy available so far as the report suggests that even an increase of 1 yuan in the price of cigarettes can result in decrease of the number of smokers.

The report also suggests that tobacco control responsibilities should not be handed over to those government agencies managing the tobacco industry.