Cigarette price hike urged on eve of World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day, which is observed on May 31 every year, was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1987. The theme this year is “Tobacco-free Youth” — a direct appeal to prevent smoking among young people.

The JTF, founded in 1984, is one of the most active non-governmental organizations in Taiwan that advocates tobacco control and mental health.

According to Lin Ching-li, JTF’s director of the department of tobacco control, at least 500,000 young people and women in Taiwan are smokers, and that number is on the increase.

The foundation also noted that there are more than 4.5 million smokers in Taiwan,and that about 20,000 people die from smoking related illnesses every year.

“It is too easy to buy cigarettes in Taiwan, due to ubiquitous convenience stores that are open around the clock, and the low price of cigarettes,” said Lin in a telephone interview with the CNA.

Every year, the JTF organizes a campaign to help smokers to quit, and this year there was drop of about 10 years in the average age of the participants, Lin said. In previous years the average age was around 40, she added.

“Not only are the participants this year much younger, but they are also more heavy smokers, “ she said, adding that people often mistakenly believe that “light” or “slim” cigarettes are less harmful.

In order to discourage young people from smoking, the price of a pack of cigarettes should be raised to at least NT$100 (US$3.25), Lin suggested.

In Taiwan, a pack of cigarette could cost as little as NT$40 (US$1.3).

In addition to raising cigarette prices, Lin said, the surface area of the warnings on cigarette packaging should be increased from 35 percent to 60 percent of the total area. She cited the experience of Canada whose young smoking population has dropped by 11 percent since 2001 when it was mandated that the graphic warnings on cigarette packs should be enlarged.

According to the JTF, young smokers run the risk of growth retardation and increased chances of developing a dependence on drugs or alcohol.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day campaign will focus on a total ban on tobacco advertising, including the promotion of tobacco products and sponsorship of any events or activities by tobacco companies.

The WHO has suggested that governments raise tobacco taxes and create 100 percent smoke-free environments.

The WHO indicated on its Web site that most people in the world start smoking at the age of 18, and almost a quarter of these individuals started using tobacco before the age of 10.

The younger children are when they first try smoking, the more likely they are to become regular tobacco users and the less likely they are to quit, the organization stated.

The WHO also pointed out that tobacco is the only legal consumer product that kills one third to half of those who use it as intended by its manufacturers, with its victims dying on average 15 years prematurely.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email