Beijing has to win in implementing smoking ban

Non-smoking banners are displayed on the iconic Bird's Nest National Stadium in Beijing, capital of China on June 1, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

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.

Beijing first issued a smoking ban in 1996, following it up with another in May 2008, three months before the Beijing Olympic Games. This means the capital had had a smoking ban in place for almost two decades without proper enforcement. So the new regulation accompanied by strict enforcement shows that the government is now serious about curbing smoking.

Many would, therefore, ask why the amount of fine imposed until now is so small. Perhaps the reason is the dearth of inspectors.

But the city plans to enlist more than 1,000 volunteers to assist inspectors in enforcing the smoking ban.

The volunteers will give tip-offs to the inspectors once they see people smoking in public places. Ordinary citizens have also been encouraged to report violations of the smoking ban by calling the hotline 12320 or sending messages via social media platforms such as WeChat in smartphones.

Besides, from time to time, health department officials will launch random checks and name and shame organizations that violate the rules.

Understandably, such public places as restaurants and bars are reluctant to tell people not to smoke for fear of losing customers. But rules are rules, and they have to realize that helping impose the smoking ban will draw more customers in the long run because of the non-toxic air inside their establishments even though their businesses could be affected in the short term.

Indeed, it is difficult to give up smoking. But a recent China News Service survey on smokers in Beijing shows an increasing number of people are considering quitting smoking because it has become very difficult to find a place to smoke.

As the world's largest tobacco maker and consumer, China has more than 300 million smokers - equal to almost the entire population of the United States - and another 740 million people are exposed to second-hand smoke each year. So it is good to know that the new regulation has made some smokers in Beijing think of kicking the habit.

The entire country is watching the capital city to see if it can strictly implement the ban. So the smoking ban in Beijing that started with a bang should not end with a whimper.

The author is a senior writer with China Daily. lifangchao@chinadaily.com.cn