Smoking in China

By Barry Petersen | CBS News
16 January 2007

This Letter from Asia comes from Beijing. Here's a fact of dubious distinction about China: One in three cigarettes smoked in the world is smoked here. This is not a country of smoke-free zones, or in most cases, of even smoke-free parts of restaurants.

Imagine the frustration of people like Dr. Henk Bekedam of the World Health Organization. He's fighting for good health. "If anyone lit a cigarette behind you in a bar or restaurant and you look over your shoulder and try to indicate 'Please, why are you doing this? I'm enjoying my meal!" No effect," says Dr. Bekedam.

While China happily lights up, the rest of the world is snuffing out. In America, places like California and New York City have laws so smoking is no longer allowed in restaurants or bars, and it doesn't stop here. Jump across the Atlantic to a fast growing number of European countries banning smoking in public places - even France, home to the smoky Paris bistro.

What blocks such moves in China is an insidious alliance between smokers and the government, which monopolizes cigarette production and makes millions on taxes . In some provincial areas, the money coming from cigarette taxes make up half the local government revenue.

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