Two-thirds of Hong Kong smokers will quit or reduce habit if cigarette prices rise, group calling for doubled tobacco tax says
- Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health points to university findings saying more than half of surveyed would either reduce or quit habit in the wake of price increase
- Council last month proposed raising current tax on pack of cigarettes from HK$38 (US$5) to HK$76
About two-thirds of smokers will either reduce or quit their habit if cigarette prices are raised, a group urging authorities to double the tobacco tax has said, citing research from a university in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health on Tuesday pointed to a phone survey carried out by the University of Hong Kong that found 76.4 per cent of respondents supported increasing the tobacco tax next year.
Last month, the council proposed raising the current tax on a pack of cigarettes from HK$38 (US$5) to HK$76, which would drive up the price to HK$100 next year.
According to the university survey, about 67 per cent of the 1,719 respondents said they would either reduce or quit smoking if a pack of cigarettes cost more, with more than half, or 52 per cent, declaring they would give up the habit completely.
“With the immediacy and the efficacy of the tax increase, we know that there will be strong protests from tobacco consumers and other related parties,” said Lam Tai-hing, honorary clinical professor at the university’s School of Public Health.
“For smokers, they are the victims of nicotine, and it is hard for them to get rid of the addiction by themselves.”
Lam added that raising the tax was a crucial stepping stone that could help the government achieve its target of reducing the prevalence of smoking in the city from the current 9.5 per cent to 7.8 per cent in three years.