In the present study, we examine the smoking behavior of medical students in China. Smoking prevalence there is high, especially among men: ∼63% of adult males smoke (Yang et al., 1997). Smoking in China is more than socially acceptable: it often furthers social interactions. For example, it is common to pass cigarettes to guests as a gesture of hospitality or to give cigarettes as gifts, even if both the giver and the recipient are non-smokers (Cui, 1998; Cheng, 1999). Most men start to smoke in early adulthood. In fact, more than half of male smokers take up the habit between the ages of 20 and 24 years (Yang et al., 1997). This is the age group of most medical students in China.