Smoking May Kill Third Of Young Chinese Men

One in three of all young men in China are likely to die from tobacco unless they give up smoking, according to research.

The number of tobacco deaths in the country, mostly among men, reached one million by 2010 and is expected to hit two million by 2030 if current trends continue, The Lancet revealed.

Two studies, conducted 15 years apart and involving hundreds of thousands of people, show that two-thirds of young men in China begin smoking mainly before the age of 20 and half of those will die as a result unless they give up permanently.

"The key to avoid this huge wave of deaths is cessation, and if you are a young man, don't start," said co-author Richard Peto, from Oxford University.

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The percentage of smokers among men in China has been on the rise in recent decades as cigarettes have become easily available and the government gains important revenue from sales.

Smoking rates elsewhere in the world have dropped, with about 20% of adult men and 15% of adult women smoking in the US.

Even so, more than five million deaths are attributed annually as a direct result of tobacco use, according to the World Health Organisation.

Beijing office worker Wei Bin, 32, explained why he smoked. "It is difficult, because there is a lot of pressure at work, so I smoke to alleviate the tension.

"At the same time our country does not provide good support for people who want to quit.

"I have tried electronic cigarettes, but I think that is perhaps worse."

Another office worker, Ma Huiwei, says he has become aware of the risks.

"Three years ago, I used to smoke, but now I realise it is bad for health and also the environment, so I quit." 

Younger women in China have been smoking less than their older counterparts but researchers are worried this trend might be changing as other studies indicate more young women have increasingly been taking it up.