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Nationwide public smoking ban next year
By Wang Xiang |
May 10, 2010, Monday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
CHINA will ban smoking in public and workplaces all over the country from 2011, according to an official with the Ministry of Health.
Yang Qing with the health authority said today that the outright ban on public smoking was suggested by the World Health Organization and will come into effect in China from next January. No more details were revealed.
Yang said the Minister of Health Chen Zhu has ordered a smoking ban in at least 50 percent of all hospitals by the end of this year, China News Service reported today.
In an online poll on Sina.com.cn, more than 58 percent among 3,760 voters thought the ban would not be effective.
Shanghai issued the city's first law to ban public smoking on March 1. Offenders who smoke in 12 types of public areas, including schools, hospitals, supermarkets and elevators, face fines from 50 yuan (US$7.32) to 200 yuan.
According to the law, designated smoking areas should be set up in karaoke bars, dance halls and restaurants.
However, the weak penalties have attracted critics, who also said it is not feasible to enact.
Xiong Bianfeng, director of smoking control at a local community, said the law helps to encourage people to police themselves. The anti-smoking atmosphere was more meaningful than simply issuing fines.
Yang Qing with the health authority said today that the outright ban on public smoking was suggested by the World Health Organization and will come into effect in China from next January. No more details were revealed.
Yang said the Minister of Health Chen Zhu has ordered a smoking ban in at least 50 percent of all hospitals by the end of this year, China News Service reported today.
In an online poll on Sina.com.cn, more than 58 percent among 3,760 voters thought the ban would not be effective.
Shanghai issued the city's first law to ban public smoking on March 1. Offenders who smoke in 12 types of public areas, including schools, hospitals, supermarkets and elevators, face fines from 50 yuan (US$7.32) to 200 yuan.
According to the law, designated smoking areas should be set up in karaoke bars, dance halls and restaurants.
However, the weak penalties have attracted critics, who also said it is not feasible to enact.
Xiong Bianfeng, director of smoking control at a local community, said the law helps to encourage people to police themselves. The anti-smoking atmosphere was more meaningful than simply issuing fines.
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