If you ever needed to reason to give up smoking, this is it. Forget about all that lung cancer stuff and think of the material goods you’re missing out on!
According to a new study from Hong Kong’s Chinese University, the average local smoker burns through HKD1 million in their lifetime, which would be enough to buy a 800-square-foot apartment on Hong Kong Island, if invested (rather) well.
The results were calculated by assuming smokers start at aged 18 and suck up a pack of fags a day thereafter. The average smoker therefore spends around HKD20,440 a year.
If the smoker invested all that money instead, the returns upon retirement age at 60 would be enough to buy a sizeable flat on Hong Kong Island, according to Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
We guess that all depends on whether you buy shares in Apple or AOL, however.
The research, timed to coincide with World No Tobacco Day this Sunday, also looked at the cost of smoking in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea.
Hong Kong was the third most expensive place in the region to be a smoker, behind Australia (HKD100,000 per person per year) and Singapore (HKD55,000 per person per year).
Don’t they know you can breathe in nasty shit for free here?
Photo: Jonathan Kos-Read
