China Goes Tough On Tobacco Use With Anti-Smoking Laws

Although China has successfully pushed through landmark tobacco control laws, it remains to be seen how they will be enforced.

AsianScientist (Jun. 2, 2015) – China has embarked on an ambitious plan to eradicate smoking with the introduction of its anti-smoking laws in its capital Beijing, taking effect from June 1. The new legislation, which is the country’s toughest to date, bans smoking in all indoor public areas, including restaurants, public transport and offices.

Under the new law, those caught violating the ban must pay a fine of 200 yuan (US$32.25), significantly higher than the current—and rarely enforced—10 yuan (US$1.60) fine. In addition, those who are fined three times will be named and shamed on a government website. Businesses who fail to ban smoking on their premises can be fined up to 10,000 yuan (USD$1,600).

The new laws are a landmark victory for anti-tobacco and health advocates, who have been pushing for tougher anti-smoking laws and policies to reduce tobacco use in the world’s largest tobacco consumer by country. There are 300 million smokers in China alone, nearly one-third of the world’s total, according to a factsheet by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Previous efforts to curb tobacco use have ended in failure, because of a lack of enforcement and poorly coordinated policies, according to a study done on China’s health policy. The study called for a renewal of the Chinese government’s approach to smoking and proposed a multi-pronged approach, including the elimination of advertisements that encourage smoking, putting graphic illustrations of the harmful effects of smoking on cigarette packs, higher taxes and prices on cigarettes and the implementation of enforceable bans on smoking in public places.

The Chinese government has also arguably faced resistance from big local tobacco players. The China Tobacco Corp., the largest cigarette producer in the world, generated a whooping US$170 billion in revenue in 2012 and produced 2.5 trillion cigarettes in 2013, much more than its nearest competitor, Philip Morris International, which produced 880 billion, according to a Bloomberg report.

Curbing tobacco use has traditionally been difficult for governments worldwide as they provide a significant source of revenue through government taxation. China’s tobacco industry generated 1.05 trillion yuan (US$170.5 billion) in 2014, of which 911.03 billion yuan (US$146.9 billion) ended up as government revenue, reported the ChinaDaily.

The new laws demonstrate the renewal of Beijing’s efforts to snuff out tobacco use. Whether the laws will be effective depend much on the enforcement and policing of anti-smoking bans. Nonetheless, the new laws are a welcome effort to combat the various diseases and run-off effects caused to non-smokers by smoking.

———

Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Craig Kirkwood/Flickr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Leonard graduated from Monash University with a degree in communications. He enjoys reading about science and nature.

Related Stories from Asian Scientist