Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In Beijing, local authorities have approved a new ban on smoking in public places. Smoking bans already existed in China, but have largely failed to change behaviour.
China has over 300 million smokers and more than a million Chinese die from smoking-related illnesses every year.
Now tougher regulations, enforced by thousands of inspectors, ban lighting up in restaurants, offices and on public transport in Beijing.
Enforcing the rules will be tough though because smoking in China often seems like a national pastime.
A pack of cigarettes in China can cost less than 5 yuan (US$ 0.70). A common greeting among men is to offer a cigarette - the more expensive, the better. A carton of cigarettes also remains a popular gift.
Ministry of Health guidelines published in 2011 banned smoking nationwide in all public spaces such as hotels and restaurants. The rules were vague, however, and often flouted by Chinese smokers.
Now under the new rules, repeat offenders will be named and shamed on a government website. Lawbreakers in Beijing will also be fined 200 yuan (US$ 32).
Yet, "It is unrealistic to absolutely abolish 'indoor smoking' since too many people smoke,” Yang Gonghuan, former vice-director of China's centre for disease control, told the AFP news agency.