Smoking Ban to be Implemented in China May 1st
Smoking and its harmful effects to the body is not just a national concern for Americans, but more a global concern in practically all corners of the world. One of the more common ways that governments are addressing this issue is through smoking bans, and the latest country to join the battle against smoking, based on various news reports, is China.
According to a Xinhua news report, a regulation issued by China’s Ministry of Health implements a ban against smoking in all enclosed public locations, commencing on May 1st. These locations include hotels, restaurants, theaters, and waiting rooms at railway stations and airports.
China reportedly has an estimated 300 million regular smokers, according to experts. The number of people who are routinely exposed to secondhand smoke, meanwhile, was pegged at more than 700 million.
Yang Gonghuan, the director of the National Office of Tobacco Control in China, shared the following statement regarding the responsibility of business owners with regards to the smoking ban: “It is realistic to demand a bigger role for these business owners in dissuading smokers.”
The regulation calls for the setting up of prominent non-smoking signs in business establishments, by its owners. Owners are also called on to hold promotional activities that will warn people against the dangers of smoking; employees, on the other hand, are to be encouraged to convince people against lighting up.
In addition, outdoor smoking areas should be placed such that these do not obstruct pedestrian walkways, while public places will not have cigarette vending machines.
