Tax hike on tobacco can cut deaths

THE NATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION said on Monday it supports the use of tax to reduce tobacco consumption, and it will work with the relevant departments to study the possibility of adjusting the tax on tobacco products. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

China raised its tobacco tax in 2015, which was reflected in the higher prices for tobacco products, and statistics show that the tax hike led to a reduction in the overall consumption of tobacco products.

So it is good to hear the commission saying it is in favor of raising the tax again, which has been more effective than any tobacco-control publicity campaign in bringing down China's tobacco consumption that is directly related to a number of serious and chronic diseases that harm both smokers and second-hand smokers.