Beijing has to win in implementing smoking ban

Beijing's toughest-ever ban on smoking in public places from June 1 prohibits smoking in all indoor public places and public transport vehicles. It is even cited that the new regulation bans people from smoking in any public space that has a roof.

The Beijing municipal health inspection agency has said 29 companies and institutes had been fined a total of 67,000 yuan ($9,800) for failing to comply with the regulation even after receiving warnings from inspectors. Also, 51 individuals had been fined 2,850 yuan for smoking in public places since the beginning of June.

The total amount of fine is obviously symbolic for a city with a population of more than 20 million, of which over 4 million are smokers, according to the city's health organizations.