China: Beijing Will Expand Non-smoking Policy For Olympic Games

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 30 Jan 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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With less than 200 days left before the "smoke-free Beijing Olympics" open. A Beijing official recently announced that "the provisions to ban smoking in public places in Beijing" will go into effect in Beijing office spaces, restaurants, and hotels.

The new smoking ban will affect at least 4 million smokers in Beijing. In China, there are approximately 350 million smokers; and more than 100,000 people die each year from second hand smoke.

Compared with the smoking ban introduced in 1996, this new ban is more stringent and based on solicited public views. The new provisions expand the scope of non-smoking, public areas. The first provision bans smoking inside and outside of gyms, health clubs, social units, and open public places. And for the first time, a smoking ban has been placed inside restaurants, hotels, hostels, training centers, resorts and other public places.

Meanwhile, restaurants and hotels will set up clearly-marked and well-ventilated indoor smoking areas or smoking rooms. At least 70% of rooms will be smoke-free.

Based on the new requirements, smoking will be banned in offices, meeting places, cafeterias, bathrooms, hallways, and elevators in Beijing authorities, organizations, enterprises and institutions.

The government-approved prohibition of smoking in public places is expected to begin after February of this year. The regulations are considered to be an effective support for the "Smoke-free Olympics;" and in the future to become a new starting point for tobacco control legislation in Beijing and China's public places.

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