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Almost one million people are dying out of smoking every year in China, as per the records of the World Health Organization.
China is the world’s largest consumer of tobacco goods.
Anti-tobacco advocates have welcomed the ban but remain sceptical of its implementation. The new regulations ban smoking in indoor public venues and offices, as well as kindergartens and primary schools.
China’s capital metropolis was sprinkled with pink-uniformed volunteers, propaganda banners and no-smoking indicators on Monday as Beijing unrolled formidable new curbs on a well-liked behavior that has taken a critical toll on the nation’s well being.
More than 1,000 inspectors were today sent to government agencies, hospitals, schools, hotels and other places to ensure the law is followed. Individuals caught smoking in public places may be fined 200 yuan ($32), while businesses will have to pay up to 100,000 yuan for failing to prevent smoking on their premises.
The report also predicted that 50 million Chinese children, mostly boys, will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases.
As many Chinese are used to smoking when dining, restaurant owners are being urged to do more to help implement the ban.
Apart from the fine, those who will break the law thrice will be named as well as shamed on the official website of the government.
“Beijing has now set the bar very high and we now look forward to other cities around China, and the world, following Beijing’s excellent example”, said Bernhard Schwartlander, a World Health Organisation representative in China.
The legislature passed a law last month banning tobacco advertisements in mass media, on public transport and in outdoor public spaces.
Mao Qunan of the National Health and Family Planning Commission informed that the restaurant staff will have the duty to dissuade people from smoking and if people do not listen to persuasion, the law enforcement authorities will file a case against them.
Angela Pratta, who leads the WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative in China, has urged the government to lead by example in enforcing the ban.
Schwartländer at the WHO says effective enforcement in a city the size of Beijing will be a “colossal task” but the law “deserves to be regarded as a major step forward in the battle against the smoking dragon”.
