Beijing Now Has a Smoking Ban?

Beijing’s smoking ban supposedly went into effect over the weekend – except there’s no actual information on the ban. We checked with Beijing’s bars and restaurants about what they’ve heard and what rumors are circulating around the scene.

The ban was quietly and vaguely announced in March. The Beijinger blogged about reports in the Global Times and various Chinese news sites that supplied no clear information. Back in January we also blogged about the smoking ban when the government pushed it back from January 2011 to sometime in 2015.

We spoke with owners of popular expat bars The Bookworm, Paddy O’Sheas, Fubar, and Union Bar & Grille. Among those that should be the first to receive word, no one heard even a whisper from any authorities about enacting a ban. However, some have since been visited and told that they will be fined up to RMB 30,000 for breaching the ban.

It’s not just foreign-owned establishments left confused and unaware as to the reality of the ban. Xinhua has reported similar finding amongst Chinese restaurants – basically nothing has been said and thus no measures have taken effect.

While rumors have circulated that fines could reach up to RMB 30, 000 or a more modest RMB 500, Xinhua separately reported that “no specific penalties or responsibility for enforcement have been set out in the legislation.” This was also reported in the Guardian, which said that neither businesses or customers are liable for punishment.

The Independent offers their own take on the ban and that it may be more of thought than action, "Under the new ban from the health ministry, owners of bars and restaurants must have visible non-smoking signs, warn people of the dangers of smoking, and encourage their staff to dissuade people from smoking."

The closest we have seen of a ban so far is that a customer at a noodle shop in Shuangjing was asked to put out his cigarette by staff. Presumably this was because of the legislation but that's speculation on our part. If you know of any places where smoking has been stubbed out or it is still allowed then please leave a comment. We'll all have to wait and see whether Beijing is on its way to becoming smoke-free.

Image: Xinhua/Han Chuanhao