Health experts are concerned that stationery products and chocolates shaped like cigarettes will entice young people into smoking.
Li Wanxian, a health expert, said she was strongly against the idea of cigarette-shaped products.
"Customers might first become interested in the imitation of a cigarette and then try real cigarettes; later they may develop a smoking habit," said the doctor, who is a member of the Smoking & Heath Expert Team under the World Heath Organization.
Li suggested such products be kept away from school children as they were easier to be seduced into trying "cool" things.
A report by the Shanghai Disease Prevention and Control Center said smoking is a growing problem among teenagers and deserves public concern.
About 15 percent of middle school students admitted they have tried smoking. Of adult smokers, 14.2 percent of males and 9.9 percent of females said they started the habit between the ages of 13 and 18.
A parent surnamed Wang complained to a local newspaper recently about her son. She said he involuntarily "smoked" a cigarette-shaped water pen purchased at a supermarket.
"I tried several times to correct the practice but it seemed fruitless," the mother was quoted in the report. "Water pens are popular among my son's classmates."
Meanwhile, Watsons sells a cigarette-shaped chocolate.
A Watsons employee at an outlet in Westgate Mall on Nanjing Road W. said the chocolate costs 6.50 yuan (81 US cents). She said it sells well and most buyers are young adults.
This is what worries education experts. "Teenagers lack judgment so they will not be aware of the harm of smoking cigarettes when dealing with the nice looking imitations," said Su Songxing, a juvenile issue researcher.
He also said companies need to take social responsibility into consideration before introducing products on the market.
An employee, who asked not to be named, in the marketing department of Shanghai Touhou Co Ltd said the company imports a cigarette-shaped chocolate from Japan.
"The food and its packaging all conform to state law so we don't see anything improper," said the employee.
(Shanghai Daily March 22, 2006)
