Beijing passes new law making it illegal to smoke in public places
Beijing has passed through a new law that makes it illegal for smokers to light up in all indoor public spaces, state media reported.
Past attempts to limit where the country's 300 million smokers can light up have failed.
The new regulation comes into force in June and also bans tobacco advertising outdoors, on public transport and on nearly every form of media -- including magazines, radio, TV, films, newspapers and books -- the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The World Health Organization applauded the move, saying it paved the way for strict anti-smoking legislation at the national level. "We are thrilled to see the Beijing 100% smoke-free law pass, with no loopholes and no exemptions," said Bernhard Schwartlander, the WHO Representative in China. "China is poised to take a quantum leap forward on tobacco control."
People found smoking in the newly-designated non-smoking areas will face fines of 200 yuan, about $32.
China is the world's largest tobacco producer and also its largest consumer. The China Tobacco monopoly in 2012 had earnings of 1.65 trillion yuan ($268 billion), according to a report in the Global Times.
