A Comment published Online First in the Lancet (www.thelancet.com) describes Hong Kong as a 'bright spot' for tobacco control in China—saying that the region has remarkably successful record for decreasing the health burden of tobacco use. The Comment is by Professor Jeffrey P Koplan, Emory Global Health Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, USA, and colleagues.
China is the world's largest tobacco grower, cigarette producer, and consumer, with 35% of global market-share and 30% of the world's smokers. Tobacco will cause 2 million deaths yearly in the country by 2025. While China is a signatory to the International Convention on Tobacco Control, it remains in the early stages of addressing the threat posed by tobacco.
A number of elements have come together to make tobacco control in Hong Kong a success. These include tax increases at various times in the past two decades, regulation of indoor smoking, pack warnings, anti-smuggling efforts, school-based anti-tobacco education, mass-media campaigns, and community events. The Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health and non-governmental organisations, such as the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, have worked together on these strategies.
Tax rises on tobacco have been regular and at times staggering—in 1983, tobacco taxes increased by 300%, followed by a 100% rise in 1991, a 5% rise in 2001, and a 50% rise in 2009. These increased taxes, combined with the other strategies noted above, have seen smoking prevalence in Hong Kong decrease from 23% in 1982 to 12% in 2008. However, the number of female smokers has remained static in the past decade, and young smokers have increase their daily consumption, from an average nine cigarettes daily in 2005 to 11 in 2008.
The authors conclude: "Hong Kong has shown that an effective large-scale tobacco-control programme, promoted with adequate resources over many years, can shatter misconceptions about tobacco, change the social norm, and yield huge benefits, including a healthier population and economic savings. These efforts can serve as a useful best-practice example for China and other nations."
Professor Jeffrey P Koplan, Emory Global Health Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, USA. T) +1 404-778-2444 E) jkoplan@emory.edu
For full Comment, see: http://press.thelancet.com/chinahongkong.pdf
Journal
The Lancet