Call for 10-year endgame in Hong Kong

A study has concluded that Hong Kong should set itself the goal of a total ban on tobacco sales before 2022, according to a Tobacco Control report.

A telephone survey was conducted among 1,537 randomly-selected residents in 2012 to assess their support for a total ban on tobacco sales, usage and possession.

Backers of “some form of a total ban” on tobacco were said to have included 75.3 percent of the never smokers, 63.9 percent of the ex-smokers and 48.9 percent of current smokers.

A total ban on tobacco sales was the most popular option among the three groups, with 64.8 percent of all respondents supporting a ban within 10 years.

Current smoking and higher educational attainment were associated with less support for a total ban on tobacco sales.

Among current smokers, having quit intentions and attempts to quit were associated with support for a total ban.

The study, which was first published online yesterday, was carried out by researchers at the School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong; the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, US; and the School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong.

An abstract is available at http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2013/09/17/tobaccocontrol-2013-051092.abstract.html?papetoc.