Chinese encouraged to smoke
What do you think about these Chinese officials being forced to smoke? Apparently, a council in China has decided that in order to increase revenues from tax on tobacco, all officials and civil servants are encouraged to smoke. Not just any cigarettes, though. It has to be a locally-produced brand. Those who do not smoke or smoke the wrong brand risked fines as well as removal from office.
Now, the story has led to criticism and the government has decided to rescind this edict, but they have not commented on it further. Millions of Chinese die each year from smoking-related illness, yet half of all male doctors there still smoke. There is still much ignorance about the health risks and The Healthy Blogger can only assume it was part of a government plot. But said government had made a U-turn in recent times and had even imposed a ban on smoking in public buildings. That was before the Olympic Games – what they will do for the future remains to be seen.
