China bans indoor smoking in Beijing; fines upto $1600

China's toughest ban on smoking in public places came into effect today in the capital Beijing, home to around 4.2 million smokers, amid widespread scepticism over weak enforcement of the new law as tobacco sale fetch a whopping $145 billion revenue to the government.

The new legislation prohibits smoking in all indoor public places, including offices, shopping malls and airports, as well as at outdoor stadiums, school grounds and public parks. 

More than 1,000 inspectors were today sent to government agencies, hospitals, schools, hotels and other places to ensure the law is followed. The officials found cigarette butts in hotpot restaurant's washroom, with the restaurant failing to publicise the smoking complaint hotline 12320 on its no-smoking posters, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The inspectors said they would return in two days to ensure the restaurant comply with the law. 

The flouting of the ban may attract fines of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,600). Individuals caught smoking in public places may be fined 200 yuan ($32), while businesses will have to pay up to 100,000 yuan for failing to prevent smoking on their premises. Venues which repeatedly ignore the law could have their licenses revoked.

As the world's largest tobacco maker and consumer, China has more than 300 million smokers, almost the size of the US population, and another 740 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Cigarettes sale fetch about $145 billion annually and tobacco is a prime crop on which millions of Chinese farmers depend.

At Beijing Capital International Airport, people gathered at two designated outdoor smoking areas to have a puff as indoor smoking rooms at the airport's three terminals have all been closed.

A report on the state-run CCTV said there is a widespread scepticism about the ban as smoking has been ingrained in Chinese families for long.

While regulators have vowed strict implementation, some still doubt the feasibility of the ban and fear authorities' resolve to curb smoking could taper over time and leave the ban as ineffective as its predecessors. 

Beijing has had smoking bans in place since 1990s, and it stepped up the campaign before the 2008 Olympics, but the enforcement have always been weak. The World Health Organisation (WHO) which honoured Beijing with an award for the ban has suggested mobilising the public to help enforce the ban. China signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003.

"Beijing's ban on smoking indoors is consistent with China's commitment to the FCTC of protecting the health of non-smokers through enhanced legal support," said Wang Qingbin, a professor with China University of Political Science and Law who helped draft the new smoking ban.

The new ban also serves as a test case for a similar move nationwide. Draft legislation for a national ban has been published to solicit public opinions. Amid worsening pollution, cancer is now the leading cause of death in China, with lung cancer at the top of the list.

In April, China's top legislature adopted an amendment to the Advertisement Law, banning tobacco advertising in mass media, in public places, public vehicles and outdoors. Angela Pratta, who leads the WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative in China, has urged the government to lead by example in enforcing the ban. "Strong enforcement is critical to ensuring the effectiveness of smoke-free laws, so too is leadership. Senior officials and leaders in government offices need to lead the way by setting an example and supporting enforcement efforts," Pratta said.