Beijing stubs out smoking with new rules

Heavier fines, shaming on govt website for violating ban
The Straits Times, 2 Jun 2015

BEIJING - China's capital was sprinkled with red-uniformed volunteers, propaganda banners and no-smoking signs yesterday as Beijing rolled out ambitious new curbs on a popular habit that has taken a serious toll on the country's health.

Health activists have pushed for years for stronger restrictions on smoking in China, the world's largest tobacco consumer, which is considering further anti-smoking curbs nationwide.

Under the new rules, anyone in the capital who violates the ban, which includes smoking in restaurants, hotels, schools and hospitals, as well as in certain outdoor public places, must pay a 200-yuan (S$44) fine.

That is 20 times the current, albeit seldom enforced, penalty.

Anyone who breaks the law three times will also be named and shamed on a government website.

Businesses can be fined up to 10,000 yuan for failing to stub out smoking on their premises.

Some 1,100 health inspectors will enforce the law, carrying out spot checks and acting on tip-offs from the public.

Smoking is a major health crisis in China, where more than 300 million smokers have made cigarettes part of the social fabric, and millions more are exposed to second-hand smoke.

More than half of Chinese smokers buy cigarettes at less than 5 yuan a pack.

At an event to promote the ban on Sunday, the Beijing authorities draped its iconic Bird's Nest Stadium, built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, with giant banners bearing no-smoking signs.

Dozens of volunteers performed a choreographed dance to promote the campaign, showing three hand signals the government recommends locals to use to encourage others not to smoke.

One of the signals is a mock cough. Another depicts a time-out sign with one palm over the other.

Yesterday, enforcement of the bans appeared spotty in local restaurants and public places.

Some had "no smoking" signs explaining the new rules.

"I think this time it's really big, and it will definitely be very serious," said Ms Xu Jingyuan, a 25-year-old saleswoman who was told by the waiter of a neighbourhood eatery that she had to smoke outside.

"They've started out quite strictly with the policy this time." Other restaurants were allowing smokers to light up only at outdoor tables.

Mr Wang Wenyue, a 46-year-old businessman, said he likes the law even though he smokes two packs a day.

"It's a decades-old habit for me," Mr Wang said as he took a drag on a cigarette.

"But it's a good policy, so I'll just eat out less."

Some restaurant owners are wincing at the notion of paying a hefty fine for patrons who insist on lighting up.

"You can't control what the customers do," said Mr Fu Shunshui, 39, who owns Shaxian Delicacies restaurant in Beijing.

As he spoke, a customer emerged from his restaurant with a lit cigarette.

Asked if the man had been smoking inside, Mr Fu replied: "I wasn't paying attention."

One security guard near a popular public square in the city's south-west district said he and his colleagues had received instructions to tell smokers to leave the area.

"The ban starts today, but we're giving some leeway early in the week," said the guard.

"Just for today, go ahead and smoke."

REUTERS, BLOOMBERG, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

The penalties

- Anyone in China's capital who violates the ban, which includes smoking in restaurants, hotels, schools and hospitals, as well as in certain outdoor public places, must pay a 200-yuan (S$44) fine. That is 20 times the current, albeit seldom enforced, penalty.

- Anyone who breaks the law three times will be named and shamed on a government website.

- Businesses can be fined up to 10,000 yuan for failing to stub out smoking on their premises.