DBWI: Smoking in China?

[YLi]

Now, I'm not a smoker, but I'm just wondering why China has such a low rate of tobacco usage. The entire country has one of the world's lowest rates of tobacco consumption, with about 80 cigarettes per adult in the country. I understand that lighting up in public is completely socially unacceptable and many cities, like Beijing and Shanghai have outright bans on smoking in any public area or in any area where people gather, such as bars and restaurants.

Meanwhile, the state tobacco monopoly in China strictly regulates cigarette sales and charges such a high tax that the price of a pack of cigarettes is well out of reach for most Chinese people. Not only that, but there are no foreign brands permitted in China. Many foreign visitors have learned just how difficult it is to get tobacco products; they're only sold in state owned stores, which are few and far in between.

In any event, smoking is seen as a low class activity in China and many Chinese like to at least pretend they are prosperous, if only to fit into the narrative of wealth in a rapidly developing country. The massive anti-smoking propaganda doesn't help tobacco's cause either.

In comparison, people in neighboring India consume 2,500 cigarettes per year per adult per year. Tobacco is essentially part of masculine identity there for some reason. How come?

 

[EternalCynic]

I guess people have learnt their lesson since last time a smoking drug took off in China.

 

[Enigmajones]

OOC: Fuck....now I really want a cigarette.

 

[Michel Van]

What you expect from a Country, who consider tobacco consumption as cultural Evil since the Opium War ?
It was only way to stop the British opium import, with the death penalty for smoking in China...

 

[John Fredrick Parker]

In comparison, people in neighboring India consume 2,500 cigarettes per year per adult per year. Tobacco is essentially part of masculine identity there for some reason. How come?

OOC: I'd actually heard about China's OTL smoking rates, so I follow you there, but what is India's deal OTL? Is it pretty much the description of China in the OP?

 

[YLi]

ooc: India has a much lower rate of tobacco consumption than China, about 99 cigarettes per adult citizen per year.

 

[John Fredrick Parker]

ooc: India has a much lower rate of tobacco consumption than China, about 99 cigarettes per adult citizen per year.

OOC: Ah I see, so just 24% more often than TTL's China. And China's, OTL, is 1650 per adult per year, right? I'd say 2500 per a per y in India sounds a bit much; hell, even Russians are only at about 2300...

 

[Axeman]

China learned its lesson from the Opium problems of the Qing Dynasty.

India didn't have access to Tobbaco when it was under British Rule because the BEIC heavily regulated the importation of tobacco to India because such a high demand would stimulate production that they couldn't beat from Dutch Brazil. The sepoys and various Indians of high-status got some Tobacco but it was later outright banned by the British authorities. When the early 20th century came around smoking was illegal because of tobacco importation laws *if you were Indian*, meaning that smoking was patriotic. When the Brits left India in 1960 *before the People's republic took over from 69-91* Smoking was patriotic. Then the communist government banned it, and smoking became associated with freedom. When the ISC broke up in 1991 smoking in India proper came back because its ban was associated with the Indian Socialist Confederation and the long dead British Empire.

In short, in India to smoke is to be patriotic.
In China, to smoke is to be unpatriotic.

 

[VidaLaVida]

Between the aftermath of the Opium War and the rise of the Hong Xiuquan, it was pretty much inevitable. Once the Taipings got a firm grasp on authority, one thing you can definitely say to their credit is that they did more about China's opium problem than the Qings could ever hope to do. However, that also ended up involving banning not just opium, but alcohol and tobacco as well, and they had the draconian punishments to back each of these bans up as well. An addiction epidemic brought on by foreign encroachment AND unusual religious views make a hell of a combination when it comes to deciding what people are allowed to consume.

 

[Imperator Novae Zealandae]

Cost most probably has an effect.