China's tobacco habit

China is the world's largest consumer of cigarettes. China has banned smoking in schools, state media reported on Wednesday, the latest step in a government drive to kick the country's pervasive tobacco habit.

Despite years of campaigning by health activists smokers can be spotted everywhere, even in schools and hospitals. But with a huge public health burden looming ever larger, China has recently intensified efforts to stamp out smoking.

Anti-tobacco efforts have been hampered by the country's powerful tobacco monopoly, health campaigners say, which pays hundreds of billions of yuan in taxes every year. (Reuters)

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