Smoking ban begins, doubts concerning implementation

• Source: Global Times
• [15:18 March 01 2010]
• Comments

By Zhang Cao

The smoking ban in public places across Shanghai went into effect today, but some hotels and restaurants in the city told the Global Times yesterday that they were unaware of the directive.

A staff member at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai said they have received calls from clients asking whether smoking would be prohibited during their wedding ceremonies. “I told them I guess they could since we haven’t received any notice from the government.”

But the responsible authorities warn that this sort of behavior could result in severe consequences.

“It’s likely that the government will make random inspections from now on to see if residents and managers of those public places are following the rule,” said Zhou Yangming, an analyst for the Chinese tobacco industry, adding that violators could be seriously punished.

Approved in December, the new rule prohibits smoking in schools, hospitals, shopping malls, internet cafes, and museums among other public facilities. And the same practice applies to major areas in upscale hotels and restaurants. Punishment for violators is a fine ranging from 50 yuan ($7.32) to 30,000 yuan ($4,395).

Although news about the smoking ban has been widely publicized since January, those who are responsible for implementing the policy claim they have not been officially notified. And many newly-weds have already decided to carry on the tradition of smoking at their wedding ceremonies.

“I’ll still hand out cigarettes. It’s a deeply rooted tradition. My guests would think I was rude if I didn’t do that,” Dong Hao, a would-be groom who will soon hold his wedding in Shanghai told the Global Times.

But Cao Jingxing, a commentator on current affairs, suggested that there should be a change to Shanghai people’s routine mentality. “The smoking ban should make no exceptions for wedding ceremonies.”

A survey from the Shanghai Morning Post indicated that 71 percent of their more than 100 interviewees support the ban, but some question the outcome of the initiative.

“If no one monitors it, this regulation is just a scrap of paper,” said Lu Zhi, a 28-year-old Shanghai resident.

Zhou Yangming added that a real smoking ban will be very financially harmful to the tobacco industry.