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Q: Why are there so many smokers in China?
What is the explanation for the high rate of smoking in China? Is there a Historical, Economic, Spiritual etc explanation that could help me understand this?
It's all about health. It filters out the pollution. And smoking's fun.
GuilinRaf:
It is!
I quit a few years ago, but I really really REALLY miss it! Kind of like the way girls who love chocolate but give it up for health and figure.....
TedDBayer:
I quit smoking over 10 years ago, don't hang around smokers, guess what I started smoking about a month ago, 2 packs a day. Coughing too much, have to quit again
Smoking is a direct line and contributor to pollution.
I don't understand it myself, but miseducation and ignorance is certainly a contributor. In a generation or two, when they see their cool dads and grandpas die early and with horrible lungs and coughs and bad smells, the smoking will curb itself. Also, the law needs to catch up to modern ideas (and enforcement).
GuilinRaf:
Not necessarily.
My dad died of lung cancer, just like his dad and HIS dad before him.
I just find cigars too hard and too expensive to get here in Beijing, that I have quit (given up) smoking. Just way too much work!!!
cooter:
I'm not a smoker myself (nasty habit), but my grandmother lived to the ripe old age of 90 before she passed away. I don't think there was a day she went without a cigarette or 20....
GuilinRaf:
My great grandmother lived to be 108. She was a cigar smoker since the age of 12.
My dog died of cancer and she never smoked a day in her life....
tmestep8:
You're honestly disputing that smoking causes cancer? Or that it's detrimental to health? My dad smokes and drinks, my mom lived a healthy life of exercise. But my mom is the one who died of cancer, my dad is still kickin'. But I know these anecdotes mean nothing. There are many people who survive bullet wounds, but I still wouldn't recommend getting shot.
GuilinRaf:
Lol!
Very good point! i would not want to get shot either!
I loved smoking cigars, I really miss it, but I do know that if I got cancer down the road, I would forever blame myself. On the other had, I know that even though I no longer smoke, I could still die of cancer for many other reasons. But at least in that case, I would be reassured that i took reasonable steps to reduce my risk.
By the way, my comment bout my great grandmother and my dog was not meant to be flippant, just that cancer can strike a non smoker and ignore a smoker.
ARE U KIDDING ME SMOKING IS A LOT HEALTHIER THAN BREATHING THE AIR
It could be depression plus anxiety that is causing so many people to smoke. That is including foreigners!
I remember not too long ago in the States where you could smoke anywhere and everywhere, at bars, restaurants, public transportation like planes. Slowly but surely grassroot efforts started up and pushing restaurants and eateries to ban smoking, and soon laws and ordinances pushed smoking out of everywhere but the casinos. Smoking is still very common in America, but they don't do it in small public places or indoors anymore, so it appears less people smoke than in China. I do dearly miss not being a victim of 2nd hand smoke!
GuilinRaf:
About three years ago, I got yelled at by a cop for smoking IN THE SMOKING AREA!!! She then demanded I show her my Id, so I did, my attorneys license. That shut her up really fast....
GuilinRaf:
I should have added, this was in Puerto Rico, not China....
gregoryneal1:
yeah, I can remember when the armrests on commercial aircraft had ashtrays built into 'em. 
Many (maybe all) of the first leaders of the CCP like Mao, Deng Xiao Ping, Zhou Enlai to name a few where heavy smokers people looked up to these leaders copying the image they portrayed hence smoking was one of them.
Remember when Fidel Castro quit puffing the cigars to portray a better image to the youth of Cuba to have a healthy life.
Population control even more effective than the one child policy.
It really baffles me to see locals here smoke even in a bank hall. The first time I saw dead filters in the floor of a bank hall in some city in Hunan Province I almost fainted, not believing what I had just seen. But as I would later find out, I should have saved my shock for a proper day. The first day I thought it was just clients who were committing this sin. On this shocking day it was one of the bank's employees enjoying his cigarette on his desk, not behind the tellers' counter but in the client waiting hall. Yet as u get walk into the banking hall u are greeted by a loud warning: NO SMOKING. I guess it's there for decoration purposes.
As per Mattays answer, he is personally responsible for the bulk of the smokers.
Smoking is cool, all the cool kids are doing it.
Jesus! Guys at the gym light up in the showers here. Wtf?
bill8899:
Yes I smoked one in the gym last night only because I know that happens only in China.
Wait, wait, I know this one ! Because there are sooooo many cigarettes !! 
because Chinese love getting HIGH ,so they smoke .......
for the same reason smoking was so common in early 20th century America. Looking at China is like peeking back into the past. They really haven't caught up yet.
also there are so many smokers in the world. Can you offer the specific data regarding it
Your question: "WHy are there so many smokers in China".
My Response: "It's the most populated country on the planet.
