For tobacco-free youth

The fact that tobacco kills does not necessarily prevent many from picking up the habit of smoking because the harm comes long after. This is particularly true for teenagers. That may explain why "tobacco-free youth" was designated as the theme of this year's World No Tobacco Day on Saturday.

True, China's tobacco control is picking up steam with more cities, including Beijing, starting to ban smoking in public venues. But the fact remains that more youngsters have joined the rank of smokers and that their first drags on cigarettes have come at an even younger age. This has made the anti-tobacco efforts more complicated and harder.

A report released by China's tobacco control office suggests that the number of smokers between the age of 13 and 18 is estimated to be at least 15 million, which accounts for 11.5 percent of the population of 130 million in this age group. At least 40 million teenagers have tried cigarettes, according to the report. And, the number of those who tried their first cigarette before the age of 13 are found to be 15 percent higher than the percentage in the previous investigation. In addition, half of those youths who do not smoke are suffering from second-hand smoking either at their homes or public venues.