Smoking message starts to take hold

ROME - Tobacco smoking is set to increase until 2010, but at lower rates than in the past as more people in rich countries shun the habit, says the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Smokers worldwide will rise to 1.3 billion in 2010 from 1.1 billion in 1998 due to population and income growth, says the FAO. But fewer smokers in developed countries means consumption growth will slow.

"By 2010, the share of developed countries in world tobacco consumption is projected to be only 29 per cent, from 34 per cent in 1998. The share of developing countries will be 71 per cent."

Increasing awareness of the damaging health effects of smoking and intensified anti-smoking campaigns would account for a fall in developed nations' tobacco consumption to 2.05 million tonnes in 2010, down 10 per cent from 1998.

But consumption in poorer nations will rise by 1.7 per cent a year, with China leading the way.

"A major part of the projected increase in demand is expected to be in the Far East, particularly in China.

"The share of China in total world tobacco demand is likely to remain around 37 per cent in 2010."

Smoking kills five million people a year through tobacco-related diseases and is the single greatest cause of preventable death in the world.

The World Health Organisation predicts smoking deaths could reach 10 million worldwide by the late 2020s, with more than 70 per cent of victims in the developing world.

- REUTERS