Raise tobacco tax to save lives in China

From June 1 it has begun to feel like public health might be starting to win out in the battle against tobacco in Beijing. The Beijing smoke-free law now makes it illegal to light up in workplaces, restaurants, hotels and other public spaces across the city. But the battle against tobacco is far from over. Tobacco products still kill thousands of Chinese people every day.

There is a way to combat this, though: tobacco tax. Quite simply, a big enough tax increase could save millions of lives in the next decade.

Tobacco use significantly contributes to a fast growing epidemic in China: non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, cancer and chronic pulmonary diseases. These conditions are now the leading causes of premature death, ill health and disability in China, accounting for more than 80 percent of total annual deaths. If tobacco use is not significantly reduced, it will aggravate the economic and social impact of an aging population, increasing the odds of a future economic slowdown, which in turn will pose a significant social challenge.