January 10, 2009
Bangkok (ASTV Manager Online) – More than 1.7 million Thai men who are poor but still smoke were asked to stop smoking to be a gift to their family and children.
Men in poor families were addicted to smoking and had to spend up to 8 percent of their annual income on smoking.
However, they did not use that money to support their family, according to the National Statistical Office.
As a result, the quality of life of people in such family became worse since children lacked proper food and education.
Nevertheless, the populations in the poor family group quit smoking successfully.
The smoking rate dropped from 69.3 percent in 1991 to 47.9 percent in 2007.
The rate was still high compared to the average smoking rate of Thai men at 36.5 percent.
Smoking not only causes health problem, but also adds more burdens to the poor family.
