Number of Young Smokers in China Has Risen By Almost 50%

By Bryan Grogan, November 26, 2019

The number of young smokers in China is rising, according to Wang Chen, the president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, who was speaking at a press conference on tobacco control recently. According to China Daily, Wang said that the number of people aged 15 to 24 who smoke has risen to 18.6% from 12.5% in 2013. That’s a 48.8% increase over the course of just six years.

These rising figures stand in contrast to rates of smoking among adults, which have decreased consistently. China Daily reported that 26.6% of people over the age of 15 are smokers, compared to 27.6% in 2015.

This comes as China continues to take steps to curb smoking, an initiative put forth in the Healthy China Action Plan (2019-2030). As part of this plan, proposals to add more warnings to cigarette packaging as well as implementing higher taxes and adjusting prices of cigarettes are being considered. A platform that sends text messages to help people quit smoking is also under consideration, as a joint venture with the World Health Organization, according to Xiao Dan, the director of the Institute of Respiratory Medicine at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing.

The news also adds context to the recent ban on online sales of e-cigarettes, which was brought into effect to combat the rising number of young smokers purchasing e-cigarettes online.

Earlier this year, Hangzhou became the first city in China to ban the use of e-cigarettes in public spaces. Shenzhen followed suit not long after, imposing its own ban on smoking e-cigarettes in public spaces like outdoor ticket-purchasing areas and waiting areas outside of stadiums, parks, tourist destinations, schools and medical service institutions.

Elsewhere in Asia, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has imposed a ban on the use and importation of e-cigarettes. According to the Straits Times, those seen vaping in public in the country can be arrested by police. So, if you’re planning to travel to the Philippines, leave your e-cigarettes at home.

[Cover image via Unsplash]