Warning sounded as young professionals turn to cigars

An increasing number of young professionals are taking up cigar smoking in the mistaken belief it is less harmful than puffing on cigarettes, health experts warn.

Retailers say cigars - long the preserve of wealthy, middle-aged men - are now a hit with the younger crowd and are gaining female fans.

But the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (Cosh) warns they will have the same impact on community health that glamorous cigarette campaigns in the 1950s are now having.

Teddy Lam Hin-hing, retail manager of Pacific Cigars which supplies the Sheraton, Mandarin Oriental and Ritz-Carlton hotels, said the average age of buyers was now about 22 to 28.

The price of Cuban cigars had dropped 35 per cent in the past year, making smoking more affordable to lower-income earners.

Mr Lam said younger people were taking up the habit for health reasons, thinking cigars contained fewer chemicals than cigarettes.

Sales had risen 10 per cent in recent years, although growth had slowed more recently in line with the economy. He sold about 5,000 cigars a week.