International Bulletin - August 1999
Kick the Habit
A toxic blend of cheap cigarettes and ignorance about related health hazards spells trouble for the anti-tobacco lobby as it tries to convince Asia's smokers to kick the habit.
Over one billion people across the continent light up on a daily basis. The numbers give a grim illustration of how smoking-related problems might paralyze health care systems in China - where tobacco kills 700,000 smokers each year - Vietnam, Indonesia and other Asian countries noted for their sizable populations of smokers.
Perhaps staggering health costs will convince leaders to impose higher taxes on tobacco and launch anti-smoking campaigns that better educate about the dangers of nicotine. But what worries many no-smoking crusaders most is the deeply ingrained belief - across most of the continent - that smoking is sexy. In Chinese, Hong Kong, Indonesian and Thai cinemas, leading men light up and swagger across the screen while an audience of billions swoons. If it worked for Humphrey Bogart, then why not Chow Yun-Fat?
Last Modified: June 05, 2010