Chinese workers urged to boost economy by smoking

Bizzare news! The government of a Hubei, China is asking officials to smoke nearly a quarter million packs of locally made cigarettes or face fines.

State media report that the Gong'an county government in Hubei province is looking to boost their locally produced cigarette brands by asking staff to smoke 230,000 packs of cigarettes. Brands like Huanghelou reportedly face competition from competitors in the neighboring Hunan province.

Some 350 million Chinese currently smoke, with around a million dying from smoking-related diseases every year. Meanwhile, a Chinese pharmacist is trying to help his country and others kick the habit. Hon Lik invented the electronic cigarette , which uses a small lithium battery that atomizes a liquid solution of nicotine. When someone inhales, it looks like they are taking in smoke, but it's really just vapor similar to "stage fog."