2011: A Very Aggravating Year For Chinese People
A Ban On All Forms of Tobacco In A Country With The Largest Cigarette Consumption
China, the world’s largest tobacco producer and consumer, will ban all forms of tobacco promotion by January 2011. A ban on tobacco advertising has been in place since 1996, but firms have managed to sidestep the rules and promote their brands in other more subtle ways such as sponsoring sporting events, or using their logos without mentioning “cigarettes” on television, radio and in newspapers and magazines. To date, fewer than half the cities have framed rules on smoking bans in some public spaces. Efforts to ban smoking in other areas such as karaoke parlors and restaurants have been stifled by unwilling owners and managers who fear a loss of business.
Figures from the Ministry of Health show that China has an estimated 350 million smokers, almost a third of the world’s 1.1 billion smokers. Last year, authorities found there were 231 instances of tobacco promotion considered illegal. Nicorette and chewing gum companies should haul @ss to China by 2011 to make a killing. That’ll be crazy, everyone in China smokes. (even kids)
