Beijing's New Ban: Up in Smoke?

The contentious and ever elusive Beijing smoking ban has reappeared. After the last ban was pushed back five years, the new one takes effect May 1. As usual, details are hazy and expectations of a truly effective ban aren't great.

Dubbed the Beijing Smoking Control Regulation, this new ban is one part of the recent five year plans. The information was released yesterday on Chinese news sites and sets up non-smoking and limited smoking areas in public spaces.

The burden of enforcement falls on the operator or administrator of public places, who face fines for anyone caught smoking. The fines range from RMB 10,000 to 30,000 though an article in today’s Global Times quotes the fine at a much lower RMB 500.

Today’s Global Times article also mentions the ban “stipulate[s] that business owners should set up conspicuous non-smoking signs, carry out promotional campaigns to alert people to the dangers of smoking, and direct employees to dissuade those smoking in public…. [and] outdoor smoking areas should not occupy sidewalks and passageways while cigarette vending machines are not allowed in public places.”