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More Smoking Babies!

Tots on a train underscore need for enforcement of China’s new smoke-free rules

Posted by: Editor | Apr 15, 2011

The world was shocked last summer to see videos of an Indonesian toddler chain-smoking as part of his daily routine. 

Now China has doubled the trouble: A video of two toddlers in a train car, puffing on cigarettes and blowing smoke in each other's faces, has surfaced on the Internet. 

Adults nearby watch, comment  and even chuckle at the kids' disturbing use of deadly tobacco.

See for yourself: 

China is the world's biggest consumer — and producer — of tobacco, and more than a million Chinese die each year from tobacco-related diseases.  Images of children smoking have surfaced from time to time in the Chinese media, and are often discussed online. As cultural attitudes about tobacco use slowly change, public concern about this behavior appears to be growing.

Late last month, the Ministry of Health unveiled an expanded smoke-free policy that requires 28 types of indoor public places to be smoke-free.  The policy, which takes effect May 1 but is expected to allow a grace period for implementation, is a significant step toward achieving a comprehensive, national smoke-free policy for China. To protect Chinese children and others from the harms of tobacco use will require recognition of the problem among the public and business operators — and their support for the new smoke-free policy, as well as rigorous enforcement and penalties for those who break the rules.

Parents and other adults must step up to protect Chinese kids. Because there's nothing cute about kids who go on to develop cancer and other deadly diseases.