In country of smokers, Beijing bans lighting up indoors

BEIJING (AP) — China's capital Monday began imposing the country's toughest ban on indoor smoking in hopes of stemming a looming health crisis.

Smoking in Beijing is now prohibited in all indoor public places, including offices, shopping malls and airports. Beijing's main terminal will close its three smoking rooms and special smoking areas will be set up at the city's 600 bus stops.

Fines for violators have been raised to 200 yuan ($32), up from the 10 yuan ($1.6) charged under the former partial ban.

The World Health Organization says 300 million Chinese smoke, including about half of all men, and 740 million Chinese are exposed to second-hand smoke. The group says lung cancer kills more than 1.3 million people in the country each year, one-third of the global total.

Bans have been imposed in other parts of the country and cigarette sales to minors are technically forbidden, although enforcement is spotty at best.

Low taxes keep the price of cheaper brands at as little as $1 per pack and smoking rates appear to be rising, especially among the young.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency, more than 50.99 million cartons of cigarettes were sold in China last year, an increase of 37 percent over the previous year.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-06-01

The Chinese has almost as many people who smoke as their are people in the USA. Amazing figure.

Will it include banning spitting on the floors indoors?

I was surprised to see patients and visitors smoking in Chinese hospitals. The vast majority of adult males smoke.

Am I translating the above correctly, that they'll close the airport (or bus terminal?) smoking rooms, but you can now nip out to one of the 600 bus stops instead?

....but there is too much smoke outside already. Inhaling the air outside is the same as smoking.

....but there is too much smoke outside already. Inhaling the air outside is the same as smoking.

Yes, which is the most dangerous second hand smoke or China's smog?

A huge revenue source for the govt, tobacco sales. Obviously a conflict of govt interests and usually, money wins.

I've been on many long distance buses in china, and frequently had to point out the 'no smoking' signs to those lighting up a cigarette. Most ignored me and the signs. The ordinary chinese person would never (hardly ever) speak to another person smoking on the bus.

Ban it indoors, ban it outdoors, get rid of cigarettes from the face of the earth. Worst invention in the history of mankind.

Governments in the tobacco business are the worst perpetrators.