Smoking and Health Commission advocates 100% increase in tobacco tax to encourage smokers to quit

Social News

Written by: Ma Weijie

2021-02-02 15:37

The last update date: 2021-02-02 15:37

New crown pneumonia is raging, but some smokers still risk smoking on the streets. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Committee on Smoking and Health, Tang Xiuqi, also pointed out today (2nd) that smoking not only removes the mask, but also touches the mouth and nose with both hands, increasing community transmission risks of.

He pointed out that after the government increased tobacco taxes in 2011, there was no significant increase in tobacco taxes in the following ten years. The committee and 83 organizations wrote to the Financial Secretary as early as January 25, urging the government to budget for this year. The case will increase tobacco tax by 100% and increase tobacco tax rate annually to accelerate the reduction of smoking population to protect public health.

In recent years, new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heating cigarettes have begun to enter the market. Tang Xiuqi believes that all new tobacco products should be banned as soon as possible while the problem is not serious.

(Photo by Ma Weijie)

After the government increased the tobacco tax in 2011, there was no substantial increase in tobacco tax in the following ten years. The current tobacco tax rate accounts for about 63% of the current price, which is far below the 75% recommended by the World Health Organization.

In recent years, the smoking rate in Hong Kong has not only declined slowly, but it has also shown slight signs of recovery.

The Hong Kong Committee on Smoking and Health proposes that the government substantially increase tobacco taxes to 100% in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, and increase the tobacco tax rate annually, so as to accelerate the reduction of the smoking population and promote the process of tobacco control in Hong Kong to protect public health.

Increasing tobacco taxes can encourage smokers to quit

Committee Chairman Tang Xiuqi pointed out that the government has not increased tobacco tax to curb tobacco use for six years. The cost of implementing tobacco tax is not high, but it is the most effective tobacco control measure.

According to the “Tobacco Control Policy Survey” conducted by the Committee from September 2018 to March 2019, 79.6% of the respondents support an increase in tobacco tax in the coming year; and 84.5% of smokers even stated that the increase in the retail price of cigarettes will make them quit smoking Or reduce the amount of smoking by more than half, and the expected median price is 100 Hong Kong dollars per pack. With an increase of 100% tobacco tax, the price of cigarettes will be about 97 yuan, which is consistent with the recommendations of smokers.

In addition, after the substantial increase in tobacco taxes in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the number of calls received by the Department of Health's comprehensive smoking cessation hotline increased by 258% throughout the year, reflecting that the increase in tobacco taxes has increased smokers' desire to quit smoking.

Committee Chairman Tang Xiuqi also pointed out that the new crown pneumonia is raging, not only removes the mask when smoking, but also touches the mouth and nose with both hands, which increases the risk of community transmission.

(Photo/Photo by Ou Jiale)

Smoking increases the risk of COVID-19 spread in the community

Tang Xiuqi also mentioned that smoking not only damages lung function and lowers immunity, but also attracts people with a greater chance of contracting respiratory diseases. In addition, when smoking, they remove masks and frequently touch their mouth and nose with their hands, which increases the number of new crowns. The risk of the spread of pneumonia is even more local. The local case involves chatting with another person while smoking in a public place. Both of them were diagnosed afterwards.

In addition, studies have found that smokers are 1.4 to 2.4 times more likely to have severe complications or even death after contracting new coronary pneumonia than non-smokers. Reducing smoking can reduce the socio-economic and medical burden and reduce the risk of new coronavirus transmission.

▼February 2 Yen Long restricted area "Ho Choi House" situation▼

+7

+7

+7

Prevent children and adolescents from starting to smoke

According to the "Thematic Household Survey Report No. 70", 67.1% of smokers in Hong Kong started smoking before the age of 19. Preventing children and adolescents from starting to smoke is a very important tobacco control task, of which tobacco tax increase is the most effective.

The income of young people is lower than that of adults. For the same price increase, young people’s smoking reduction rate is higher than that of adults. Increasing tobacco tax can prevent them from starting to smoke. In the past 2009-2012, the smoking rate of young people increased from 2008 to 2008. 6.8% of the total dropped to 3.3% in 2013, reflecting that the increase in tobacco tax has been effective in preventing youth smoking.

In addition, in recent years, new tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and heating cigarettes have begun to enter the market. Tang Xiuqi believes that all new tobacco products should be banned as soon as possible while the problem is not serious. He pointed out that among young people and middle school students, smoking electronic cigarettes and heating cigarettes account for 7.7 % And 2.3%, and thousands of elementary school students have smoked e-cigarettes or heated cigarettes. The number is worrying. Therefore, e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes should be banned from entering the market as soon as possible.

▼Protection rate side effects of Kexing, BioNTECH Fosun, AstraZeneca ▼

+2

+2

+2

01News

The annual consumption of 5 billion cigarettes in Hong Kong is 28% of smuggled cigarettes

[Policy Address] Chen Zhaoshi: The government has always hoped that e-cigarettes will be banned in the future and traditional cigarettes will be banned

[Heating smoke] Legislative Council report: Some harmful substances have higher concentrations than traditional cigarettes

E-cigarette quit smoking