Smokeless China
Despite some efforts to reduce smoking, China has avoided outright prohibition, owing largely to the huge amount of revenue generated by the tobacco industry. Are electronic cigarettes the answer?
Despite some efforts to reduce smoking, China has avoided outright prohibition, owing largely to the huge amount of revenue generated by the tobacco industry. Are electronic cigarettes the answer?
Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and engineering an economic recovery are only two of the challenges facing new US President Joe Biden. Amid deep social divisions and the continued threat of right-wing extremist violence, Biden must also try to re-establish democratic political norms and restore trust in American leadership at home and abroad.
BEIJING – In a few weeks, Beijing will implement a city-wide ban on smoking in all indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and offices, as well as on tobacco advertising outdoors, on public transportation, and in most forms of media. If the initiative, agreed late last year by the municipal people’s congress, is successful, China may impose a similar ban nationwide.
A significant decline in smoking would undoubtedly bring enormous public-health benefits to China. But is it feasible?
With an estimated 300 million smokers, China represents one-third of the world’s total and accounts for an average of roughly 2,700 tobacco-related deaths per day. The costs of treating smoking-related diseases, not to mention the associated productivity losses, are considerable.
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