Home - QUESTION OF THE DAY - How Many Smokers In China?

How Many Smokers In China?

Dec 19, 2009

Tags: How Many Smokers In China?

TEXT COMMENTS(0)

WRITE A COMMENT(maximum 1000 words)

ALL PROGRAMS

RELATED PROGRAMS

Stubbing Out Smoking

Yesterday smokers around the globe were encouraged not to light up as part of World No Tobacco Day. In China, home to the world's largest population of smokers, the day raises questions about how far the country has come in the fight against smoking and what still needs to be done. Neela Eyunni has more.
A Taxing Issue

The Chinese government raked in more than 75 billion dollars from tobacco tax in 2009. That's a jump of more than 8 billion dollars from the year before.

It follows an increase in taxes that the authorities had hoped would cut the number of smokers – as well as adding to government coffers.

But experts say that the though the tax hike may have helped the health of China's economy, it's done little to help the health of the nation's smokers – there's been no marked reduction in cigarette sales.

In today's Poll Position we look at a poll by news portal Sina.com on this topic.
Short Of A Full Pack

Smokers’ luggage may be a gram lighter if they’re heading to Hong Kong. Starting on the first of this month, travelers can only bring 19 cigarettes into the region. The custom agent’s line is: “only partially consumed packs of cigarettes can enter the country,” making 19 cigarettes the magic number.
Contaminated Crawdaddies

Trying to get China’s 300 million smokers to put out their cigarettes is a huge undertaking. But as China prepares to ban the habit in public places throughout the country, public health experts are finding a nice way to say “put it out”.

As Katie Fischer reports, medical students are the first group they’ll try to win over.
Med Schools Go Anti-smoking

With around 350 million smokers in China, campaigns here to deter smoking face a daunting task. But an incentive has been started around the country to encourage people to take notice of the health risks smoking poses – and do something about it. Neela Eyunni has more.
Dance-off with 6-year-old-Microblog Buzz June 13

ON THE RADAR
$3.5 million Buffett lunch
China to send man to the moon

MICRO CROSS
Boy informed of man’s death after exam
Smokers vs. non-smokers in China

WHAT'S BUZZING
Dodge Ram excites Chinese
Dance-off with 6-year-old
Abe Lincoln hunts vampires
Adam Lambert’s new hit
Tobacco Tax Hike

The tax hike - of 6 to11 percent – could affect an estimated 350 million smokers across China. Although it took effect from the beginning of May it has only just been made public. In addition, a new tax of 5 percent was also imposed on cigarette wholesalers.

China's Tax Administration says the goal is “to increase government income and improve the cigarette taxing system”. It estimated the tax rise would bring in an extra $4.5 billion for the government.
Study finds half of smokers depressed, Media Watch Mar.17

FRONT PAGE

NATIONAL NEWS
FDI continues to fall
Regulating online group buying

REGIONAL ROUND-UP
Mc Trouble
Defending your honor
Gang leader shot dead
Apple’s dust-up
Study finds half of smokers depressed
Shandong issues e-passports

TOP TOPIC
iPad 3 goes on sale

NAME IN THE NEWS
Zhou Rui

BITS & PIECES
A miracle times five
Doing what you have to do
Teaching a lesson
Master of the Rurik’s cube
Pig racing
Amazing ability