Smokin' Shanghai

Unlike life in Champaign-Urbana, you won’t find much debate about lighting up in Shanghai.  Cigarette smoking is quite popular in this big city and for that matter, throughout China.  Smokers are everywhere, especially men.  A 2001 British Medical Journal determined two-thirds of the adult male population in China smokes.  The same study indicated 30% of the world’s cigarettes are consumed by Chinese.  Smoking is allowed almost everywhere.  Some medical projections expect as many as one third of Chinese men will die due to smoking related illnesses in the next two decades.  Interestingly, China’s state owned cigarette industry has told citizens cigarette smoking is actually good for you…that it will prevent ulcers.  Chinese owned tobacco companies supply one third of the cigarettes made in the world.  Cigarettes are relatively cheap in China too.  A informal survey taken in Shanghai today, indicates a pack of 20 cigarettes can sell for as little as 35-cents US.  Some American brands of cigarettes cost $1.50 to $2.00.  In the U.S., that same pack of cigarettes would run more than $3.50.