Jump to full article: Hong Kong Standard (hk), 2008-04-14
Author: Timothy Chui
Intro: Hong Kong's ban on smoking in public places has driven people to light up more often at home, setting off alarm bells over family health.
A study has revealed that 51 percent of 126 smokers interviewed lit up more often at home since the ban came into effect, with 56 percent of those saying the lack of alternative venues was the reason for doing so.
"Despite [the ban], there is a troubling trend of smokers lighting up more at home" said Betty Kwan Ka-mei, head of pressure group Smoke Terminators' Society, which carried out the study with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacies.
Smoking at home is especially dangerous for non-smokers because second-hand smoke comes direct off the cigarette unfiltered and is much more lethal to the comparatively safer smoke drawn in through filters, Kwan said.
"Smoking at home is akin to putting one's family through a charcoal- burning suicide mission," she said.
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