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Can China Kick the Habit?

Viewing Ideas

Before Watching

1. The United States requires warning labels on cigarettes, and does not allow the sale of cigarettes to minors. To what extent do students think that these policies deter new smokers and people who already smoke? Should warnings be placed on labels of cigarettes that are sold abroad, or is it the responsibility of each country to set its own policies? What suggestions do they have for policies that would deter smoking?

2. In 1964, the Surgeon General reported that cigarettes are "causally related to lung cancer in men." Significant progress has been made to discourage Americans from smoking, yet more than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related diseases each year. If smoking has been proven to cause diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease, why do you think American corporations are allowed to sell the product, and why are they allowed to promote their product in foreign countries?

After Watching

1. China bans tobacco advertising on television, restricts smoking in public places, and does not allow smoking by students. Warning labels and tar levels are also required on cigarette packaging. What effects do you predict these policies will have on deterring new smokers and enabling people who are already smoking to quit?

2. American cigarettes are promoted in Asian countries as a status symbol. What do you think are the moral implications involved with promoting cigarettes as part of the American way of life? To what extent do you think advertisers and tobacco companies should (or do) have a responsibility when marketing in foreign cultures?

3. The Chinese government depends on the income from cigarette taxes to increase federal revenue. What are some strategies that officials could use to decrease the country's reliability on tobacco sales?