Indoor smoking down sharply

Almost half of a year after the implementation of a new tobacco control regulation in Beijing, smoking in public places has greatly decreased and public support for a smoke-free city is rising, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning said on Wednesday.

Health authorities in Beijing inspected 30,414 venues since June 1, when the regulation took effect, and punished 217 for failing to stop indoor smoking, the commission said.

The authorities also levied fines totaling 30,650 yuan ($4,800) on 598 smokers who violated the regulation, the commission reported.