Indoor smoking ban in roll
- Source: Global Times
- [03:18 May 11 2010]
- Comments
By Deng Jingyin
Health authorities Monday announced a plan to ban smoking in all public venues and work sites starting next year.
According to the health ministry, smoking will be against the law in all indoor public venues and workplaces, as well as in trains, buses and other modes of transportation. Some outdoor sites will also be subjected to the ban expected to be in place in January.
"We've set the goal in accordance with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control," Yang Qing, a senior official of the ministry, said at a press conference Monday.
China participated in the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006 where it promised a full imple-mentation by 2011.
Although many cities have a smoking ban, they're not properly enforced.
Starting this month, a smoking ban was announced at all health facilities in accordance with an initiative launched in 2009 by several authorities including the ministry and the Armed Police Force.
The initiative requires all government health agencies and at least 50 percent of all medical facilities to become smoke-free this year. And all government agencies and facilities involving health will be smoke-free in 2011.
"All government health agencies should meet the requirements by September this year," Yang said.
No smoking is permitted in health offices of government buildings. Those who stop smoking or succeed in quitting could receive a 500-yuan ($73) award.
Those who violate the ban will be punished.
Furthermore, the health authority opened a hotline and a mailbox to accept reports about violations. Experts were invited to show workers how to quit smoking before World No Smoking Day, which is May 31.
Some said that the fact that 60 percent of doctors smoke makes it more difficult to stop smoking.
"Some medical workers and professors even smoke boldly in hospitals or schools," Li Xinhua, in charge of tobacco-control publicity and education at the ministry of health, told the Global Times earlier.
China has nearly 350 million smokers, about one third of the world's smoking population, most of whom are men.
I know it is harmful, but I smoke just because of the heavy workload… I need to be refreshed and reduce pressure," said Sun, 28, who began smoking last month.
"I support the ban although I'm a smoker now because it pollutes the environment and is harmful to the health of other people," he told the Global Times.
It's not the first effort to stamp out smoking.
Nearly 154 cities have issued regulations against smoking in public places, accounting for about 46 percent of 337 cities in China.
For example, Guangzhou passed a draft regulation to ban smoking in public areas last month.
However, the smoking rate in China has remained high, and it's been the case for the past 30 years.
"The smoking control regulation and law are not mature in our country," said Yang Gonghuan, deputy director of China Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
"And law enforcement is not in place, so regulations exist in name only."
