China failing to enforce smoking ban

China is failing to enforce a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, reporters say.

Despite the government having approved the law – which also bans smoking on public pathways – very few Chinese citizens seem to be taking any notice.

The law officially bans smoking in these indoor public places, but carries no penalties, and is not actively enforced. This means that Chinese citizens actually have very little incentive to give up. In a country where more than half of the male population smoke, persuading people to kick the habit will be a difficult task.

The Independent reports that there are around 350 million smokers in China, but that the tobacco industry employs even more people. Tobacco is embedded in Chinese culture, with smoking-related traditions, such as brides giving out cigarettes to guests at their weddings, still very common.

Smoking causes around 1.2 million Chinese people every year, and this is expected to rise to 3.5 million by 2030, according to statistics from the World Health Organization.

Sales of the smoking cessation drug Champix have reportedly soared in China. However, there is a long way to go before the proportion of the population which smokes is reduced.