Non-smoking areas set to be extended
Print Edition
IF legislators in Shanghai have their way, the ban on smoking would be extended to all the hotels, restaurants, offices, airports and even entertainment venues.
A draft regulation submitted to the city’s legislative body yesterday also calls for a smoking ban on all public transports.
“It would mean all indoor smoking rooms will soon be a thing of the past,” Wu Jinglei, director of Shanghai Health and Family Planning Commission, said.
The current regulation, which was introduced in 2009 ahead of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, stipulates that star-rated hotels, restaurants, airports, railway stations and ferry terminals could set up smoking areas or smoking rooms. Hotels were allowed to categorize their rooms into smoking or non-smoking.
“Considering the feasibility of the new regulation, the draft has added that outdoor smoking spots can be set up near the workplaces and transportation hubs,” Wu said yesterday.
But there will be restrictions even in some outdoor areas. The draft wants performance areas like stages and audience areas to be smoke-free as well, besides those at protected historical buildings, the waiting areas for public transportations and other public venues.
“We’ve proposed a ban on smoking in outdoor queues to protect the public from second-hand smoking,” legislator Xue Mingyang said.
The city and district governments have the right to set up temporary non-smoking areas, the draft bill said.
At present, smoking is banned in 13 types of outdoor public area, including primary schools, kindergartens, children’s hospitals and stadiums.
Law enforcement officers from different government bodies including education, sports, tourism, food and drug inspections, traffic and public security, should ensure the ban, said an official with the Shanghai Health Promotion Committee official.
A survey from the Shanghai Association on Tobacco Control in 2015 found that 36 percent of smokers threw away their cigarettes when officers approached them. It was just 19 percent in 2014.
Individual violators can be fined between 50 yuan to 200 yuan, while companies can be fined a maximum of 30,000 yuan. The fines remain the same in the new regulation. However, under the new draft bill officers can fine individuals and companies on the spot if anyone is caught smoking in non-smoking areas.
Wu said the new rule also encourages the public to tip off officers with pictures through a hotline 12345.
Volunteers will also patrol public venues, especially at restaurants, where there is a tendency for smoking.
Restaurant owners will be required to ask diners to stub out the cigarettes. If the diners refuse, they can provide evidence and report it to law enforcement agencies or face a fine of up to 30,000 yuan.
Companies or individuals caught thrice will have it recorded in their credit database, which could affect their ability to obtain bank loans.
The amendment bill will be evaluated by legislators and public opinions will be solicited. A survey found over 90 percent of the public supported ban on indoor smoking.
The stricter rules are expected to come into force before the city hosts the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion — an event co-organized by the World Health Organization — in November.
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