“Beijing has shown it can be done – we now have very solid ‘proof of concept."
I'm sorry...I must've missed this proof. A ton of people still smoke indoors at plenty of establishments all around town.
World Health Organization Calls for National Smoke-Free Law Ahead of World No Tobacco Day
As the first anniversary of Beijing's indoor tobacco ban, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for the success of the Beijing program to be extended to the rest of China.
“In the last 12 months, it has been great to see Beijing’s smoke-free law in action: enforcement is good, compliance is good, public support is high, and Beijingers are breathing easier as a result. We applaud Beijing for its very strong leadership,” said Dr. Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO representative in China.
RELATED: Smoking in Beijing
The WHO is celebrating World No Tobacco Day on May 31 by joining national and Beijing government leaders mark the one-year anniversary of the Beijing smoke-free law at the iconic National Stadium (the Bird's Nest).
Beijing’s smoke-free law is the strongest tobacco control legislation adopted in China to date, which calls for a complete ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places, and as appropriate, other public places.
“Beijing has shown it can be done – we now have very solid ‘proof of concept.' It is time to extend the same protection from second-hand smoke Beijingers now enjoy to the rest of the country, through the adoption of a strong national smoke-free law,” Dr. Schwartländer said. “However, I am sorry to say that a range of very problematic loopholes in the draft national smoke-free law have now appeared – for example, which would allow smoking in individual offices. Exempting leaders in single offices would introduce a culture of privileges, putting the health of others at risk,” he explained.
China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of tobacco products. There are approximately 315 million smokers in the country – with 28 percent of adults, and more than half of all adult men, regular smokers. Among 13-15 year olds, 11 percent of boys smoke. More than 1 million people die from tobacco-related illness every year – around 3,000 people every day. In addition, over 700 million people are routinely exposed to secondhand smoke, which kills approximately 100,000 people every year.
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Photo: World Health Organization
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