Group calls ban on flavored cigarettes

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health called on the government to ban flavored cigarettes amid its increase in popularity among women and teenagers, saying that it will increase addiction and make smokers harder to quit.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the council said nearly half of the Hong Kong smokers are smoking flavored cigarettes, with a higher proportion among women and teenagers.

Henry Tong Sau-chai, the council’s chairman, described flavored cigarettes as “sugar-coated poison,” noting that the public mistakenly believes they are healthier than traditional tobacco. 

“Menthol, fruit, and other tobacco flavors added by the tobacco industry are a significant factor that encourages teenagers and women to first try and then continue smoking.”

He added that flavored tobacco increases addiction among young people and makes quitting harder, asserting that a total ban on flavored tobacco and tobacco control measures are necessary to protect public health.

The survey conducted by the council and the University of Hong Kong between January and May last year interviewed over 5,600 people by telephone. 

It found out that 46 percent of interviewees were smokers, and over 86 percent of female smokers aged 15 to 29 are using flavored cigarettes, the highest among all age groups. 

Kelvin Wang Man-ping, a professor at HKU’s Nursing school, said: “According to the survey, over 70 percent of the public support banning flavored tobacco products, and this percentage continues to rise – a clear indication of societal support for a ban on flavored tobacco and of the urgent need for legislation.”

“If we can completely ban flavored cigarettes, these messages, channels, access, and opportunities will disappear, protecting many teenagers who wrongly believe they can quit after smoking,” he added.

(Cheng Wong)