It is good news that the smoking rate for adults dropped to 21.9 percent this year from last year's 23 percent. The decrease was attributed to persistent antismoking campaigns, hikes in quasi-tax on cigarettes and enhanced public awareness about the harmful effects of smoking.
According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, the smoking rate broke down to 40.4 percent for male adults and 3.7 percent for female adults. The figures showed that the rate for males dropped from last year's 42 percent, while that for females fell from 4.6 percent.
South Korea, which had been notorious for its high smoking rate until the early 1990s, has produced successful results in helping its people kick the bad habit over the past decade. The overall smoking rate stood at 39.5 percent in 1992. However it steadily continued to decrease to 35.9 percent in 1996, 34.5 percent in 2000 and 30.4 percent in 2004.
In particular, the rate for males declined from 75.1 percent in 1992 to 69.8 percent in 1996, 67.6 percent in 2000 and 57.8 percent in 2004. And that for females slid from 5.1 percent in 1992 to 5.3 percent in 1996 and 4 percent in 2004. A ministry official said health authorities will double their efforts to cut the rate further by designating more buildings and facilities as nonsmoking areas, running more publicly-run anti-smoking clinics, and tightening regulations.
No one can underestimate the health risks of cigarettes, which contain tar, nicotine and other carcinogens. Cigarette smoke consists of about 4,000 chemical elements, including 200 harmful materials. About 60 of them are toxic substances that can cause cancer in the lungs and other human organs.
Secondhand smoking is as dangerous as firsthand smoking. Thus the government is required to enforce a stricter smoking ban in not only public places and large buildings but also entertainment facilities such as game rooms, Internet cafes and karaoke bars. Along with the central government, local authorities should do more to implement antismoking measures, especially to prevent teenagers from smoking.
Despite the falling smoking rate, teenagers showed little sign of a drop in their smoking rate. According to recent statistics, 31.6 percent of high school boys and 12.7 percent of high school girls are smokers. Smoking is an addictive habit and old habits die hard. Thus, it is more important to prevent young students from falling into the habit of lighting their first cigarette.
The irony is that cigarette sales have recorded a 4-6 percent rise annually over the past several years. This means that smokers are consuming more cigarettes. The health authorities should not sit on their hands, only boasting of the sliding smoking rates. They ought to take more fundamental measures to reduce cigarette consumption if they really want to win the campaign against smoking. Smokers are also urged to give up their habit before it is too late.