Hangzhou has passed a rule which requires retailers of tobacco products to stop selling their goods on World No-Tobacco Day.
In addition, the rule also suggests smokers stop smoking on that day.
The rule says that everyone should give their support to the smoking ban in public places. In particularly, civil servants, doctors and teachers should actively join the smoking ban campaign, and media and the city management departments should work hard to publicize the harm that smoking does to people's health and to persuade people not to pick up a cigarette.
The rule states that each department can determine their own no-smoking areas in addition to the ten areas which are listed to be smoking-free by the national tobacco control regulation.
At present, there are 2.5 million smokers in Hangzhou. The number of teenage smokers is still on the increase and 39.7% of teenagers suffer from passive smoking.
The next World No-Tobacco Day will be May 31, 2010.
