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Smoking and vaping
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Smoking and vaping. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Seized black market cigarettes are displayed by customs. In the first 11 months of this year, 18,780 people were arrested for smuggling, storing, distributing or peddling illicit cigarettes, a 71 per cent increase over the 10,995 arrests made during all of 2023. Photo: Sun Yeung
Crime in Hong Kong

Cigarette smuggling activities in Hong Kong surpass pre-pandemic levels: customs

Between January and November, authorities cracked 19,459 cases involving black market cigarettes, representing a 65 per cent increase over the total for all of last year.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Letters | Hong Kong’s third medical school must have sizeable teaching hospital

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong authorities warn that e-cigarettes could be tools for drug abuse

Britain

UK lawmakers vote in favour of some of world’s strictest anti-smoking rules

If passed, the bill would stop anyone 15 or younger this year from ever buying cigarettes, and also make vapes less appealing.

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A man smokes a cigarette in London on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia

Terengganu becomes second Malaysian state to ban e-cigarettes

The rise of vaping in Malaysia over the past year was spurred by the exemption of nicotine-laced vape products from the Poisons Act.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s healthcare system faces US$82 million vaping bill

The government’s decision to legalise nicotine-laced vape products has worsened the healthcare crisis, despite efforts to limit access.

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Hong Kong economy

Would ending Hong Kong liquor tax and delaying shisha ban help bar business?

Hong Kong Bar and Club Association urges measures to help revitalise industry amid growing trend of cross-border spending.

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Total bar receipts in the first half of the year reached HK$611 million, a 13.6 per cent drop from HK$694 million in the same period last year. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong economy

Flavoured cigarette ban in Hong Kong may deter mainland tourists: expert

Poll of tour operators finds mainland’s 300 million smokers may think twice about visiting city if Hong Kong implements stricter measures.

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Wellness

How, for IBS sufferers, lifestyle changes can end the discomfort

A Hong Kong study identifies 5 lifestyle changes that lower the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome. A sufferer confirms they work.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s vape sector pleads for ‘opportunity to breathe’ as smoking laws loom

Industry seeks more time to offload inventories, saying rules aimed at kicking addiction among under 18s being rolled out without consultation.

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The legislation will also require that vape products be kept off counters in Malaysian supermarkets and sundry shops. Photo: AFP
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$33 million of illicit cigarettes hidden on tugboat

Officers arrest three men, aged from 26 to 57, after searching vessel and finding 7.4 million black-market cigarettes in hidden compartment.

Government tax revenue from the cigarettes will have brought an estimated HK$24 billion if legally imported, according to authorities. Photo: Facebook/Kong Kong Customs
Wellness

US city makes it illegal to vape or smoke at home, even on balcony

Smoking and vaping have been banned in some residential buildings in Carlsbad, California. Many residents are happy to be rid of second-hand smoke, but not everyone is on board with the measure.

Indonesia

Pro-tobacco activists say Indonesia’s cigarette rules are a drag on business

Pro-tobacco activists oppose a ban on selling individual cigarettes, claiming the move will impact businesses and goes against Indonesia’s smoking culture.

Indonesia

Indonesia raises smoking age limit, bans single cigarette sales

Indonesia raised the minimum age limit for purchasing cigarettes to 21 from 18 as part of a series of changes to health regulations intended to curb the deadly habit.

Anti-smoking advocates say some of the new regulations are not enough to curb smoking. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

High levels of cancer-causing particles found in some Hong Kong shisha bars: study

Researcher says concentration of PM2.5 particles in shisha bars a ‘very strong public health warning’, showing need to ban flavoured tobacco.

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Shisha smoking is particularly popular among young people, especially women, with about a quarter of university students saying they had tried it in a 2020 HKU study. Photo: Jonathan Wong
South Korea

South Korea to probe Blackpink’s Jennie’s ‘vaping incident’ after online outrage

Smoking cigarettes or vapes indoors is illegal in South Korea, and footage of the K-pop star smoking a vape triggered online outrage, with Seoul’s foreign ministry saying it had received a formal complaint.

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Japan

For many Japanese, smoking at work comes with benefits despite health risks

Most people in a survey cited the professional benefits of lighting up at the workplace, a trend an anti-tobacco advocacy group says won’t last long.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong shisha bars warn proposed ban on flavoured cigarettes will ruin sector

Patrons may turn to illegal venues offering indoor shisha smoking if government goes ahead with ban, operators say.

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Smokers enjoy shisha on Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jonathan Wong
United States

US surgeon general calls for tobacco-style warnings on social media platforms

Dr Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people.

Hong Kong society

Letters | Why not set a minimum price for cigarettes to further deter users?

Readers discuss recently unveiled measures to curb illicit cigarettes, why we need to study grammar in English classes, and passport cancellation for six people wanted for alleged national security offences.

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Hong Kong

Editorial | New Hong Kong smoking curbs to lighten burden of public health costs

City health minister is to be applauded for measures aimed at reducing deadly habit that follow hefty rise in price of cigarettes

The Hong Kong government aims to reduce the city’s smoking rate from 9.1 per cent of over-15s to 7.8 per cent by the end of next year. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong clinics log 25% rise in smokers looking to quit since 2022 tax hike

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau praises increased tobacco duty for helping to drive smokers towards ceasing their habit.

The government has said it plans to pass 10 short-term measures before the end of next year to further decrease the city’s smoking rate. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong aims to ban flavoured cigarettes but will it cut smoking rates?

Measure is among 10 proposed by health authorities, but young smokers who use the products doubt ban will work as intended.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Explainer | What are Hong Kong’s proposed new anti-smoking measures and where will bans apply?

The Post unpacks plan to lower smoking rate to 7.8 per cent and the expanded list of places where residents may be barred from lighting up.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong expects to pass 10 measures before end of 2025 to lower smoking rate

Health minister says ban on flavoured tobacco products among measures, with bill to be presented to legislature.

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During a three-month consultation last year, more than 90 per cent of the public expressed support for lowering the smoking rate. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong penalties to increase for selling and buying illicit cigarettes

Source says labelling requirement for duty-paid cigarettes will help law enforcement officials to spot contraband.

Tougher rules to help stub out cigarettes for good are to be introduced. Photo: Sam Tsang
Wellness

Smoking kills, but quit the habit and lasting benefits begin quickly

On World No Tobacco Day, oncologist Tony Mok explains the dangers of smoking and vaping, and we list the lasting health benefits to be had by quitting the habit, and how quickly they kick in.

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Wellness

Smoking shrinks your brain and increases dementia risk. Quitting reduces it

Do you need another reason to quit smoking? Habitual smoking shrinks your brain, increasing the risk of dementia. The good news is that giving up smoking, even aged 60, substantially reduces the risk.

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