Opinion

Increase efforts to tighten tobacco control

By Chan Choi Hi (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-10 07:50

According to the data of the Chinese Ministry of Health, there are 350 million smokers on the Chinese mainland (an average of one in three individuals). The population of passive smokers is more than 540 million. What is worrying is that the number of young smokers has reached 200 million.

One million people die from tobacco-related diseases every year on the mainland, far more than deaths from AIDS, suicide and traffic accidents combined, accounting for the highest mortality worldwide.

It is alarming to find that the average age of smokers is getting younger. On the other hand, the proportion of smokers who intend to quit remains relatively low. Though tobacco advertisements are banned, disguised form of tobacco advertisements exists everywhere, and there is still a long way to go in tobacco control.

As the impact on national health is great, the Chinese government pays great attention to tobacco control efforts and has participated in the formulation of the World Health Organization "Framework Convention on Tobacco Control". On Jan 9, 2006, the convention formally entered into force in China, with full implementation promised by 2011.

As 2011 approaches, Chinese government departments must ensure the full implementation of tobacco controls.

Now that Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and other big cities are beginning to implement the ban on smoking in public places, people who smoke in public places could be punished. Hong Kong's experience in this area can be helpful for the mainland. In the early period of the smoking ban, resistance was countered with private sector support and public pressure. The voice of opposition gradually diminishes and the effectiveness of tobacco controls will be significant in due course.

We need a systematic approach in tobacco control. Tobacco-related laws must be drawn up as soon as possible. The lack of a specific anti-smoking law is one of the reasons why tobacco control work has made little progress. We should also have operational mechanisms and excellent law enforcement teams (Hong Kong has set up a Tobacco Control Office in order to enforce the smoking ban in public areas). As the anti-smoking law itself needs an operational arm for implementation, the State Council should seriously consider setting up a National Tobacco Control Office to do the job.

In addition, "anti-smoking" education for all must be started from primary and secondary school, so that youngsters are well aware of the hazards of smoking. A certain percentage of cigarette tax (at least 5 percent) should be set aside to help smokers quit. In fact, as for the government, increasing tax is clearly an important tool in tobacco control. International experience has shown that raising cigarette taxes can effectively reduce usage. There are reports showing that China's tax on the retail price of cigarettes is about 32-40 percent. This rate is far lower compared to most other countries - 65-70 percent is the median range. Therefore, there is still much room for raising tobacco taxes.

Health departments should implement the "responsibility system" and an annual target for each age level of smoking cessation should be set as soon as possible, so that people can monitor the progress of the work of tobacco control. Further, the central government should order the provincial and municipal officials to implement tobacco controls.

This is not just an anti-smoking campaign. This is a "war" we cannot lose.

In order to protect people's health as well as our next generation from being controlled by tobacco, we must say no to smoking.

The author is district councilor of Central & Western District Council, HKSAR.