[Intl-tobacco] One in Five Chinese Has Tried Smoking by 15 (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

One in Five Chinese Has Tried Smoking by 15
Source: Inside China, Thursday, 6/15/00

BEIJING, Jun 1, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) More than one in five
Chinese students has tried smoking cigarettes by the age of 15, often
lured by tobacco companies that target their promotions at youth events,
the China Daily reported Thursday.

A survey of 12,000 students between the ages of 13 and 15 showed that 33
percent of the boys and 13 percent of the girls had tried smoking
cigarettes at least once.

The survey, part of a World Health Organization initiative to chart
smoking habits of young people globally, also showed many had their first
cigarette when they were only 10, suggesting that Chinese, among the
world's biggest smokers, begin their habit early in life.

The statistics indicate that the costs to society of smoking, already a
major health problem in the world's most populous country could multiply
in years to come.

Previously released data show that 63 percent of all Chinese men are
smokers, while an estimated 2,000 people die every day from
smoking-related causes.

To keep that problem from exploding in the future, the China Consumers
Association urged tobacco manufacturers to stop sales promotions at sports
and entertainment events, which usually attract a youthful audience.

The paper also said health experts are demanding stricter control over the
sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 18.

Despite regulations banning the sale of tobacco to adolescents, up to 20
percent of the students participating in the survey said they were never
turned away when buying cigarettes from street vendors.

In another move to curb tobacco use, the Beijing municipal government
recently said smoking will be banned on 130 major streets in the center of
the Chinese capital, including a shopping area just east of Tiananmen
Square, the China Daily said. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)