Wednesday 7 March 2007

Smoking Is Crucial

Reuters article "Smoking curb could 'upset China stability' " reports that banning smoking in a big way in world's most populous country could spark riots and instability. GASP! Zhang Baozhen, deputy chief of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration said:

"Smoking harms people's health, but restraining smoking threatens social stability."

His opinion was based on when the USSR collapsed, smokers rioted due to the fact that they could not get their hands on cigarettes!

Tobacco also contribute a hefty sum to China, amounting to approximately 80 billion yuan (US$10.33 billion) in tax PER DAY! What's more alarming, the World Health Organisation estimates smoking kills 1.2 million Chinese last year.

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