China enforces smoking ban in Shanghai

On Monday, the Chinese government announced new penalties to help them enforce the smoking ban in the commercial capital of Shanghai.

Since then, shops, restaurants and other businesses have been rushing to jump on the smoking cessation band wagon.

The move came in advance of the giant World Expo conference, due to be held in Shanhai in May, attracting millions of people from around the world. The Chinese government hope that the smoking ban will be widely followed by the time the Expo starts.

Yet critics say it will be difficult to enforce the ban, which was officially introduced four years ago. As has been the case in Japan, the impact of China’s anti-smoking drive has been delayed. Retailers, the tobacco industry, and smokers themselves have all put up resistance.

This resistance is unsurprising in a country that consumes more tobacco than any other. More than one quarter of the world’s 1.3 billion smokers is from China. Between them they buy a staggering 2 trillion cigarettes every year.

The new anti-smoking measures in Shanghai will see volunteers help the government to enforce the ban. Offender will be warned once, and thereafter fined. These measures could make a difference, especially coupled with rising awareness in China about the health risks of smoking.

Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death around the world. It causes an array of health problems, from lung cancer to heart disease. Many countries around the world are now taking action and enforcing tighter regulations on smoking. But a huge effort is also needed on the part of individuals to give up.