TedM (UK)

The plans to reduce smoking in China may be a very uphill struggle as this habit is almost a part of Chinese culture. Here it is a part of social life, particularly among men. Smoking bans in public places have been somewhat successful in Western countries, but only after many years of advertising the health issues and raising the tax on tobacco to high levels. Unfortunately it seems that it is young women in the West who have taken up smoking now. It is, however, also true of China that leaders have more power to demand what they believe to be in the best interests of their people, so if bans are imposed and strictly enforced (unlike driving laws), maybe they will succeed. We shall see.