Tobacco control exists as
Smoke Free Places
Smoking is completely prohibited in at least 28 indoor public places, including medical facilities, restaurants, bars, and most public transportation. Designated smoking areas are permitted in other specified places, such as long-distance transport.
Another problem is education. A 2009 survey found that only 68 percent of Chinese smokers believe smoking can cause lung cancer (whereas over 90 percent of smokers in Western countries are aware of that risk). Few therefore quit, unless they become ill.
Note: Whereas there is a National Smoking Ban in China and Hong Kong for all hotels you can still book a smoking room if you contact the hotel Concierge directly. The reservations line or booking web sites will show that smoking is prohibited.
In 2020, approximately 25.6 percent of the Chinese population with an age 15 years and above smoked tobacco products. The prevalence rate of smoking among male adults had been significantly reduced over the recent decade.
Daily smoking rates in Australia are around the lowest among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries – 11.2% for Australians aged 15 and over in 2019 (AIHW 2020, Table 2.7) 16.1% in 2021 (or nearest year) for OECD countries (OECD 2022).
It is interesting to note that Sweden, the country with the least amount of smokers in the bloc, is also the country with the lowest incidence of lung cancer. Data from Finland, Luxembourg, and Portugal also shows a correlation with healthier lung cancer rates.
Tobacco control legislation does exist, but public enforcement is rare to non-existent outside the most highly internationalized cities, such as Shanghai and Beijing. Furthermore, outside the largest cities in China, smoking is considered socially acceptable anywhere at any time, even if it is technically illegal.
Earlier report also found that Chinese male smokers felt less societal disapproval of smoking compared with smokers from western countries such as the USA and Canada. 1 In fact, beliefs that smoking is 'socially acceptable', along with beliefs that 'quitting is harmful', were very common among Chinese smokers.
Overall, the self-reported price of cigarettes ranges from 0.70¥ RMB per pack to 100¥ RMB per pack. The median price paid per pack was highest in Shanghai (7.50¥), followed by Yinchuan (5.00¥), Changsha (4.40¥), Guangzhou (4.00¥), Beijing (4.00¥) and Shenyang (3.70¥).
Public outcry (from smokers and nonsmokers alike), policing costs, illegal importation, anti-government intervention and underground sales all virtually prohibit its full restriction. So there is the conundrum: tobacco has no benefit, yet it can't be outlawed.
One of the World's strictest anti-tobacco laws has been imposed in Mexico, setting in force a total ban on smoking in public places, including hotels, beaches and parks. The new law, which is part of the country's General Law for Tobacco Control reform, came into force on Sunday.
Among adults (age 15+), 26.6% of the population smoke, with a significant difference between genders—50.5% of Chinese men and 2.1% of Chinese women smoke. Among youth (junior high school students, median age 14), 3.9% smoke (boys 5.8%; girls 1.8%). China has approximately 307.6 million smokers.
Analyses conducted by ethnicity and gender revealed that Vietnamese men had the highest prevalence of current smoking (29.5%). Ethnicity was significantly associated with current smoking among women (χ2=28.78, 4 df; p<0.001), with Vietnamese women having the lowest prevalence (0.6%).
The law allows for the sale of e-cigarettes subject to several restrictions including a minimum sales age; a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, other than tobacco flavor; a ban on sales near certain education facilities; and a ban on sales through vending machines and the internet.
Smoking in Japan is practiced by around 20,000,000 people, and the nation is one of the world's largest tobacco markets, though tobacco use has been declining in recent years.
Mainland China: 0.02%. Over 0.02% but under 0.08%: ¥ RMB 1,000–2,000 fine, six-month license suspension; Over 0.08%: up to three years' imprisonment, five-year license suspension. If the driver causes serious injuries or death, they will be charged with crime and the license will be permanently cancelled.
Since 2004, countries including Norway, New Zealand, Uruguay, Malta, Italy, Sweden, Scotland, Bhutan, Lithuania, and the British Virgin Islands have gone smoke-free, protecting the health of millions by banning smoking in public places.
Smoking while walking is banned throughout Japan, and there are many places where simply smoking outside is banned as well.
Current smokers in Europe 2020, by country
The share of individuals who currently smoke cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or a pipe in Greece was around 42 percent in 2020, which makes the Mediterranean country have the highest proportion of smokers in the EU.
Post Malone has spilled the tea in a new interview about the depth of his infamous smoking habit. “On a really terrible day — there's a very fine line between a terrible day and a good day… 40 to 45,” he told Full Send about how many cigarettes he tends to average per day.