Secondhand smoke seems everywhere in China..

July 18, 2008 - It has been reported that half of youths who do not smoke suffer from second-hand (environmental, side-stream, ETS) smoke (involuntary or passive smoking) either at home or public venues. Preparing for the 29th Olympic Games in May 2008, Beijing health chiefs banned smoking in public places, including sports, venues, government offices, transport stations, schools and hospitals, and recruited 100,000 inspectors to ensure Beijing the ban was observed during the Games. The regulation gave the inspectors powers to fine errant smokers 10 yuan (1.47USD) if they lit up illegally, but no fines had yet been issued. It is believed a policy of persuasion and education was more feasible in stopping people smoking illegally. Lighters are banned from Olympic venues, and smoking is entirely banned in the National Aquatics Center, or the "Water Cube". In October 2007 Beijing banned smoking in taxis and extended to other public places in May. Restaurants, bars, karaoke venues and massage parlors are exempted, but these establishments are required to provide separate smoking and non-smoking areas. 25% (300 million) of the Chinese population smoke - one third of the world's
smokers. About 54 million Chinese suffered from "passive smoking" and 1 million people died of smoking-related diseases each year. Smoking is the biggest contributing factor to cancer deaths in China, where 500 million are affected by second-hand smoke.

China is a member of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The government has pledged that all types of tobacco advertising and promotions will have to disappear by 2011.

Licensed production in China of Philip Morris International's Marlboro brand starts this summer in China.

Reference:
Beijing goes softly on enforcing smoking ban - Special report: 2008 Olympic Games, 7/18/2008.


Click image at top to enlarge.. (TobaccoWatch.org)