China faces uphill battle to stub out smoking habit
- By Wang Dongying
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 17, 2015
Taxes and revenue
In 2009, about 8 percent of the country's revenue came from taxes and profits related to tobacco. Although the Chinese government raised tobacco taxes, a report published by the World Health Organization in May 2014 said that China's tax increase had little or no impact on tobacco consumption because "higher taxes were not passed on to the retail price of cigarettes."
Opposition
Beijing will probably not face too many difficulties enforcing a smoking ban in public spaces. Most people already observe restrictions on smoking in public transportation, in hospitals and in government buildings. However, smokers there may object more strongly to a ban at restaurants, clubs and bars.
Despite the bans, such establishments often ignore laws that might affect their business. On a visit to a Beijing restaurant a few years back, my husband was puffing away on a cigarette while I gave my order to the waiter, who made no mention that we were at a no smoking table until my husband asked for an ashtray. Only at that point did the waiter point out that we were sitting in a no smoking area and lead us to a designated smoking section.
One is seldom refused an ashtray, even in restaurants that display "no smoking" signs. And even if my husband were to refrain from smoking in such places, he would likely be the only smoker in the place not puffing way.
Rural divides
Leave Beijing and travel to the provinces and smoking restrictions are even more lax. In Yunnan Province in particular, tobacco and smoking is almost a way of life.
Tobacco is one of Yunnan's major crops with more than 45 percent of the Yunnan provincial government's tax receipts coming from tobacco. In fact, Yunnan produces more than 40 percent of China's entire tobacco harvest.
In such places, any anti-smoking drive will be strongly opposed. While Yunnan may be a special case, some 60 million people throughout China earn their living producing and selling cigarettes. Furthermore, taxes on cigarette sales account for nearly one tenth of annual national revenue.
Bans in the West
China is not the only country to impose restrictions on smokers. Much of the western world has already banned smoking in public places. But this hasn't come without some controversy.
While there are few who will argue that smoking or social smoking is healthy, there has been criticism that restrictions go too far and that establishments should be allowed to choose whether or not to allow smoking or be given the options to create separate smoking rooms.
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